Wow, this is a subject that tugs close to my heart strings, how about yours? Do you know how many people have blocked emotions? I do. Guess I kinda used to be one of them. I remember saying, I just really don't like crying -- especially not in front of people.

Well, why not? The Lord created emotions, actually in the book of Genesis. There must be a reason He created tear ducts, and even biologically and physiologically there's a reason for them. I've typically preferred crying alone, you know, it's private, no one sees you and if it messes up your make up, you can straighten it up. Right now, my mind rolls back to two crying episodes I had where I just couldn't control the tears.

First crying episode

I was on a business trip in South Carolina and I was tired after landing at the airport.
I was exhausted emotionally and mentally.
I decided, I'm not going to work today, instead I'll eat lunch and rest, after all, I don't know anyone in this city.
I ate lunch and when I finished, a stranger in the restaurant walked up to me and said, "Baby, the weight on you is so heavy, I felt it across the restaurant and I've been sitting over there praying for you."
I remained quiet, I didn't know her.
She asked while standing at my table, “May I pray for you?”
I said yes and she began to pray while touching my hand [the waitresses are now looking because they know we didn't come in together].
Bear-sized tears began racing from my face because this woman called out everything that was wrong with me and I didn't know her.
Yes, people in the restaurant are really looking now.
After praying the lady said, do you have car, did you come here in a car.
I said yes, my rental is outside.
She said, go in the car, roll up the windows and cry as hard as you need to.
I did just that.
I exited the restaurant, drove across the street to a bookstore parking lot, went way in the back of the parking lot -- and baam, I wailed like an animal in the forest who was wounded and no one was there to rescue them.
I'll never forget that cry.

Second crying episode

I'm now in another state years later and I spontaneously decided to have a meal with a lady I'd met like about two days prior.
I'd been doing some reflecting on my life and thought I was fine.
The Lord was dealing with me on an issue I really didn't want to talk to people about.
After all, nothing is ever going to change, so why bother even addressing it.
Sometimes you just have to accept things the way they are right?
No, wrong!
Why is that wrong, because what I believed DID NOT align with The Bible, the Word of God.
If what I believe doesn't align, then what I believe is not true.
The Word of God is true, it is the truth, which meant what I believed was a lie.
Yes, it had been a reality for a long time, but it was a lie I believed because the situation had been that way for so long.
Well, let me tell you.
I sat at that meal table with just about a perfect stranger.
We were eating.
And I tried to be civil and talk, do the small talk exchange.
Lord, that didn't last for two minutes.
The tear ducts RIPPED and there was no way I could conceal the tears.
This wasn't a simple cry, the veins in my soul had ruptured and here I am with a complete stranger.
It's a beautiful thing when you can communicate with a person -- human spirit to human spirit -- without using any words.
Really in this particular situation it was the spirit of the Lord in me connecting with the Spirit of the Lord in her.
That lady rubbed my right shoulder and the top of my back.
She didn't say a word.
Underneath my breathe I eked out the words repeatedly, "They are not better than me."
I just kept repeating that because that had been my inner struggle that started centuries before I was born.
I just bought into the lie because it had been passed down generation to generation to me -- and in ignorance I accepted it.

Well, Beloved reader, I simply share with you today, you have the freedom and are released to cry.
Cry in public.
Cry in private.
Cry with friends.
Cry with enemies.
Cry with your spouse.
Cry with the Lord holding you.
Cry in your car.
Cry in the bathroom stall at work.
Cry in your woman's lap.
Cry on your man's shoulder.

It's okay; you are now released and have the freedom to cry.

Beloved reader, thank you for taking your time to read this blog. If you're not a member of this online Healed People, Heal People community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truth.

You may have read or heard of news articles about aluminum being a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease, paranoia and learning disabilities. Alzheimer's disease robs one of memory and life. It has to be one of the most terrible and dehumanizing things that torments our modern society.

Aluminum has a special affinity or liking for the brain and nervous system and heads straight for them. This pollutes and interrupts their function. Herbal practitioners have also confirmed that the glandular functions of many men and women have been restored when aluminum contamination is flushed from the body.

Many baffling and confusing conditions that have not responded to anything all of a sudden clear up. You may ask, ‘Where does all this aluminum contamination come from?’

That is a fair question. Here are a few of the most common sources: soda pop, beer, etc. in aluminum cans, baking powder used in our baked goods, aluminum drying agents in powdered food to prevent caking, aluminum cookware, baked potatoes and other foods baked in aluminum, over-the-counter preparations for upset stomach that contain aluminum-hydroxide, industrial manufacturing processes that dump aluminum into our air and water and don’t forget one of the worst things for a woman’s body, underarm antiperspirants made with aluminum-chlorhydrate.

You have to figure whatever you put under your arm will wind up in the breasts and other parts of the body. You can see this is especially bad for
women, and imagine the problems it can cause with the breasts. Put another way, we can safely say that most cancers in the body are caused by poisons.

Perhaps a little aluminum now and then does no great harm, but constant use of it, especially from so many man-made resources, can constitute a health threat. It is not just people who suffer from aluminum poisoning.

You hear much these days about bones not being able to retain enough calcium. It may interest you to know that aluminum competes with calcium for absorption in the body and lowers the female hormone, estrogen. Our dogs and cats fall prey to this aluminum contamination as well.

Manufacturers of pet food, especially the dry type in bits, commonly use aluminum to keep it dry. Interestingly enough, despite all the piles of scientific evidence from animal hair and skin analyses, our Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute for Health have shown no interest in investigating this situation.

If you notice that your pet has dry lusterless hair, is listless, has no energy, chewing wallboards and such and attempting to catch unseen things
in the air, suspect aluminum poisoning. Their blood tests quite often show, along with aluminum, pancreas, liver and kidney damage. Home-made dog foods can help a lot.

For people and pets, the use of sea vegetables, especially one known as Bladderwrack, does wonders for flushing aluminum out of the body. This can be added to one’s diet rather easily. For a person, 10 to 40 drops of a type of algae, liquid Bladderwrack [known as an extract] or one to four capsules per meal.

And for a pet, depending on size, one to ten drops per meal or one to four capsules per day. While you are detoxifying dangerous metals, it may
also be wise to keep in mind using still another type of algae. Chlorella can be used to detoxify heavy metals such as mercury or lead. Where you find one type of metal poisoning, you often find others.

Chlorella can be taken in the same amounts as Bladderwrack. Please be patient. It may take awhile, even months, but at least it is comforting to know you are on the right road. Is it any wonder that our bodies have become polluted as we have polluted the earth with our modern drive for profit and better living through chemistry? Thank the Creator that herbal remedies have been provided for the relief of maladies of our
own making!

Remember When and Golden Days are Pure Herbs that are useful in removing metals/aluminum from the body.

This article was excerpted from the April 2011 Pure Herbs newsletter.

— Dr. Watkins

The Danger of Celebrating Halloween
by Kim Daniels
CharismaMag.com
10.27.2009

Halloween—October 31—is considered a holiday in the United States. In fact, it rivals Christmas with regard to how widely celebrated it is. Stores that sell only Halloween-related paraphernalia open up a few months before the day and close shortly after it ends. But is Halloween a holiday that Christians should be observing?

The word holiday means holy day. But there is nothing holy about Halloween. The root word of Halloween is hallow, which means holy, consecrated and set apart for service. If this holiday is hallowed, whose service is it set apart for? The answer to that question is very easy—Lucifer's!

Lucifer is a part of the demonic godhead. Remember, everything God has, the devil has a counterfeit. Halloween is a counterfeit holy day that is dedicated to celebrating the demonic trinity of: the Luciferian Spirit [the false father]; the Antichrist Spirit [the false holy spirit]; and the Spirit of Belial [the false son].

The key word in discussing Halloween is dedicated. It is dedicated to darkness and is an accursed season. During Halloween, time-released curses are always loosed. A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to ensnare souls in great measure.

You may ask, Doesn't God have more power than the devil? Yes, but He has given that power to us. If we do not walk in it, we will become the devil's prey. Witchcraft works through dirty hearts and wrong spirits.

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

Even the colors of Halloween [orange, brown and dark red] are dedicated. These colors are connected to the fall equinox, which is around the 20th or 21st of September each year and is sometimes called Mabon. During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements [air, fire, water and earth].

Mother earth is highly celebrated during the fall demonic harvest. Witches praise mother earth by bringing her fruits, nuts and herbs. Demons are loosed during these acts of worship. When nice church folk lay out their pumpkins on the church lawn, fill their baskets with nuts and herbs, and fire up their bonfires, the demons get busy. They have no respect for the church grounds. They respect only the sacrifice and do not care if it comes from believers or non-believers.

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals.

The gods of harvest that the witches worship during their fall festivals are the Corn King and the Harvest Lord. The devil is too stupid to understand that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest 365 days a year. But we cannot be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. When we pray, we bind the powers of the strong men that people involved in the occult worship.

Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.

While the lukewarm and ignorant think of these customs as just harmless fun, the vortexes of hell are releasing new assignments against souls. Witches take pride in laughing at the ignorance of natural men [those who ignore the spirit realm].

Decorating buildings with Halloween scenes, dressing up for parties, going door-to-door for candy, standing around bonfires and highlighting pumpkin patches are all acts rooted in entertaining familiar spirits. All these activities are demonic and have occult roots.

The word occult means secret. The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

* Sex with demons
* Orgies between animals and humans
* Animal and human sacrifices
* Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
* Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
* Revel nights
* Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
* Release of time-released curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.

However, Ephesians 1:19-21 speaks of the authority of the believer and the exceeding greatness of God's power in us [the same power that raised Christ from the dead]. It goes on to say that that Jesus is seated in heavenly places far above all principalities, power, might, dominions and every name that is named. The good news is that because we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, the same demonic activity that is under His feet is under our feet, too!

People who worship the devil continue to attempt to lift him up. But he has already been cast out and down! Many are blinded to this fact, but the day will come when all will know he has been defeated once and for all.

When we accept Jesus but refuse to renounce Satan and his practices, we are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm—and the Word says that God will spit us out of His mouth. The problem with lukewarm is that it attempts to mix the things of the devil with the things of God. It is God's desire that we serve Him alone.

Second Corinthians 6:15 asks the question, And what agreement has Christ with Belial? As believers, we need to answer that question in our hearts. We must avoid the very appearance of evil. I would not want a demon spirit to mistake me for an occult worshiper.

There is no doubt in my heart that God is not calling us to replace fall festivals and Halloween activities; rather, He wants us to utterly destroy the deeds of this season. If you or your family members have opened the door to any curses that are released during the demonic fall festivals, renounce them and repent. I already have. Then declare with me: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

About the author | Kimberly Daniels is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher. She is the founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International [KimberlyDaniels.com], Spoken Word Ministries—the church she pastors in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Ardell—A Child of the King Learning Center and Word Bible College. Kim is a recognized prophetic voice as well as the author of several books, including her most recent, Prayers that Bring Change [Charisma House].

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. If you know other Christian parents who would benefit from this site and article, please send them the link to this article. As a member of the Web site, you'll receive regular updates of encouragement.

We thank God for Dr. W who saved our friend from dialysis. With the diagnosis of a shrinking kidney and possible dialysis, Dr. W advised us to rub the Pure Herb Arnica on the skin over the kidney area on the lower back for any nerve damage, the Pure Herb Herbal Adjustment for circulation, the Pure Herb Vitamin E with Selenium for oxygenation and the Pure Herb Black Cohosh to remove any poison.

Also, so soak absorbent gauze or cheese cloth with the Pure Herb Ol' Number 11 to lay on the area and cover it with plastic wrap and repeat for a day time application.

Within a week, there was noticeable improvement. Within two weeks voiding began with copious amounts. Her remardk was, "I'm going like a race horse."

Within three weeks the pain was gone. By the way, this lady is in her 90s and never expected a recovery like this! She is rejoicing in the new found health.

Thank you Dr. W. May God bless you!

-- Judy, West Frankfort, IL

When you smoke, you inhale up to 4,000 toxic chemicals. After you meditate on the list below, you will hopefully consider healing and deliverance to quit smoking permanently.

Acetone - paint stripper

Ammonia - floor cleaner

Arsenic - white ant poison

Butane - lighter fluid

Cadmium - used in car batteries

Carbon monoxide - car exhaust emission

DDT - insecticide

Methanol - rocket fuel

Napthalene - mothballs

I began smoking cigarettes as a teenager when I was a 7th grader.

My parents smoked and several of my friends.

It looked like such an enjoyable thing to do as well as looking cool and grown-up.

Almost needless to say, a habit of 5-7 a day soon became a ritual.

As the years progressed, I got pregnant with my second child and was encouraged by my doctor to quit and I did.

Since my husband was a smoker, it begin to appeal to me again.

Admittedly, trying not to smoke once you have been a smoker and you live with a smoker is challenging at best through human efforts.

So, I started smoking again.

Another doctor encouraged me to quit since I developed high blood pressure/hypertension.

Even though I only smoked 1 cigarette a day after supper in the restroom so my children wouldn’t see me, it was still a habit and just as difficult to quit.

This time, I prayed for the Lord to take the desire away.

As of today, I haven’t had another cigarette since.

That has been at least 15+ years ago.

For whomever may be wrestling with the smoking habit, I encourage you, my sister, brother, or future Christian, to believe the Lord will deliver you, too, if you sincerely desire to be delivered.

Signed,

Smoke-free Sister

Prayer for freedom from smoking including renouncing

A biblical complete set of instructions for the smoker who is dying to give up smoking!

Why is it so difficult to stop?

Jesus said that the devil is a murderer from the beginning and cigarettes are one of his preferred methods of killing humans since it is such a slow, seductive, and finally painful process.

As we study the origins of smoking tobacco products it becomes clear that there are many spiritual roots, which hold a person in bondage to this habit. The benefit of the following teaching has been proven over several years and as readers exercise their freewill to pray and cut off the spiritual roots associated with smoking, freedom will result. Let's start with a story.

True story
When I was only about six, my older brother found a brand new packet of cigarettes beside the road and we felt very grown up as we smoked almost the whole packet between us.

By the time dad arrived home from work we both were very sick and probably looked green. When he smelt the tobacco and enquired if we had been smoking we lied at first but were questioned till the truth came out!

I am so glad, now, to have been put off smoking by that experience. Although I did experiment with cigars and a pipe in my 30s, I couldn't forget how sick I had felt as a child. I have since seen a lot of sick and spiritually bound friends who have ignored the warnings on tobacco and cigarette packets.

Out of concern for two friends who were heavy smokers, I studied the historical spiritual roots of smoking tobacco and was amazed.

Soon after finishing my research, I prayed with a taxi driver who wanted to quit smoking explained the history of tobacco etc. and he was set free of his habit of years through deliverance ministry, dealing with the various roots.

Many other friends have seen the victory, but some only partially since I have found that you must deal thoroughly with the roots of this dying habit.

In many countries the law requires that warnings be printed on cigarette and tobacco packets e.g. Smoking causes lung cancer. Smoking causes heart disease. Smoking causes fatal diseases, etc.

True story
One morning as I sat having morning tea with a friend, I asked him how he could still use cigarettes in spite of the warning on each packet that it causes fatal diseases. My friend got very upset and almost shouted, "It does not say causes!"

I asked him to read what his packet said and he read aloud with amazement, "Smoking causes lung cancer." He paused, looking quite stunned. "I've never seen that word causes before!" he said quietly. The demons of addiction had blinded him to the truth.

So first, it's helpful to understand the spiritual background to smoking; and therefore, why it is so difficult to stop.

1. Biblical roots

This sin is described in Deuteronomy: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer [one who consults the dead] or all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord; and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Incense = Idolatry. Also, the burning of incense like tobacco is described as a form of idolatry in the Bible and is condemned as an abomination to God.

"He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not." Isaiah 66:3 - 4

Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
Jeremiah 44:23

"A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable [things is in] their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.

These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, [it is] written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom." [Lungs?]
Isaiah 65:3 -7

The incense that we should burn is prayer; Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2

Next, the great Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, had to smoke the Indians peace pipe of tobacco before he would be accepted by the North American Indian tribes. So now we can see the typical.

2. Emotional roots | Most smokers will acknowledge that they have taken up the habit through fear of rejection by their peer group who were experimenting with smoking and thought it was cool. When they are rejected, people seek a comforter and tobacco smoking, like over-eating, masturbation, drug taking, even expressing violence can be the false comforter they turn to.

Christopher Columbus took the tobacco curse back with him to Europe in the 16th century, where one of its early uses was as a medicine, and from where its use spread throughout the world.

3. Chemical roots | The tobacco plant [nicotiana tabacum] is a member of the group of plants described as the solanaceae group. Solanaceae means comforter and nicotine is renowned for the sense of false comfort that it gives to the addict, yet nicotine is used as an agricultural insecticide. This group of plants includes the potato and the deadly nightshade or belladonna plant.

4. Bodily roots/effects | Nicotine causes disorders of the respiratory system, dizziness, increased blood pressure, and disturbances of hearing and vision.

It seems that the first thing that the spirits behind smoking do, is to mask the true taste of the tobacco. The taste, which is disgusting to a non-smoker, becomes attractive to a smoker.

A simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the true taste of the tobacco is sometimes enough to cause a smoker to seek to be free of the habit. However, without prayer, and once hooked, smokers usually carry on smoking even though the smell rejects non-smokers.

True story
One of my nephews was a smoker, a drinker and loved rock music. However, we loved him enough to pray for him as a family one day; binding satan, all spirits of addiction to nicotine through smoking, alcohol and rock music, in intercessory prayer. He was not present!

We prayed that God would let him see these things for what they are, to taste the true taste and to help him to find the real Comforter, God's Holy Spirit. Only two weeks later he became a Christian and his testimony was that he had tried to drink a Bacardi and Coke but it tasted like poison.

He reached for a cigarette but couldn't smoke it as it tasted disgusting, and that when he looked at his rock music posters in his bedroom, he saw how evil they were for the first time. So, he got down on his knees and prayed and asked Jesus to come into his life and; "Boy, did He come!" He testified to us.

"While smoking tobacco directly destroys the lungs, nicotine slowly damages the arteries and the heart. In its pure form nicotine is one of the most powerful poisons known. A direct link between lung cancer and tobacco was established in 1950." [Penguin Hutchinson Reference Library.]

Having achieved his end to slowly kill the unaware smoker, satan then offers those who want to try to give up, his alternative remedies. These often only lead to greater bondage eventually. Products like nicotine patches [the poison without the pong!], a program named after an Egyptian false god, i.e. the Isis program, and Hypnosis.

Hence, many people get out of the frying pan and into the fire. The real cure = cut out the roots of this multiple bondage til the tree falls over.

Perhaps you need to repent of:

1) the fear of rejection by [a peer group];
2) lying [to anyone like parents];
3) rebellion against [anyone like parents];
4) self-will;
5) lack of self-control; and,
6) seeking false comforters.

Renounce:

1) All historic roots;
2) Communication with familiar spirits (even in ignorance);
3) challenging or worshipping death;
4) burning incense, therefore Idolatry; and,
5) damaging the temple of the Holy Spirit. Your body is where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Renounce the ungodly lie
"Man, this is living."
Then believe, speak and confess the truth
Smoking is death in disguise

Renounce the ungodly lie
"I'll be accepted."
Then believe, speak and confess the truth
"Cigarettes make you stink."

Renounce the ungodly lie
"Smoking just comforts me."
Then believe, speak and confess the truth
"Smoking is an addiction."

Renounce the ungodly lie
"Cigarettes tastes great."
Then believe, speak and confess the truth
"Cigarettes taste like poison."

An excellent way to help you quit the habit is to put a small New Testament Bible in the pocket where you would normally keep your smokes. Then you have three choices when the habit to reach for a smoke nudges you.

1st choice: Read God's Word, which is health and medicine to all your flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22

2nd choice: Read God's Word, and smoke, or

3rd choice: Smoke and ignore God's medicine. Die young!

However, don't let the devil make you feel condemned if you can't immediately quit a long-standing addictive habit. Ask Jesus to help you one day at a time. Perhaps hum the tune when you feel like a smoke! "One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of you." Pray!

The following steps will help you to freedom. These are based on the principle of drawing nigh to God, resisting the devil and then, God’s Word promises that, he shall flee from you!

1. So call on the Lord and ask Jesus to help you one day at a time. Remember that His Holy Spirit is The Helper.

2. Throw away all items associated with smoking, even ashtrays, and all eastern incense and idols.

3. Tell every spirit associated with your addiction to leave you and never to return, in Jesus' name!

A true testimony

"After 17 years of smoking, I have stopped!" I didn't just give up - I just got on a winning team. Jesus did the work for me. This testimony is not a condemnation of smokers - I pray it will help someone, somewhere. During the 17 years that I was chained to nicotine I tried all sorts of methods to give up - hypnosis, Isis, patches, cold turkey, cutting down, etc. -- and contrary to advertising myths, you don't get your money back.

I was amazed at how I could do without practically everything else except my beloved cigarettes [my best friend]. I would even choose buying a packet of cigarettes over something my baby needed. And when I was really desperate, you guessed it, I rolled those butts up! After failing so many times and everyone sick of hearing I'm giving up smoking' song - I sought deliverance prayer.

First I had to pray about praying - to learn what might be behind my bondage. This led me to remembering that I had enticed others into smoking when I was a kid, so I needed to apologize to God for this and ask His forgiveness as well as for deliverance from the spiritual bondage.

I believe, because I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, prayer was able to release me from the cravings. Although this was just the beginning, it marked the start of the battle. The sword had been drawn - my job was to determine who, or which side, I was giving the sword to. The choice was mine.

Here's what I mean. Every time a trigger set my mind off about smoking I started to think praise and worship thoughts towards Jesus - thanking Him for setting me free and breaking the chains of bondage. I would just keep doing this until the thoughts of smoking were no longer there. Initially I was doing this a dozen times a day, maybe two or three times in a row. It was a battle, but one I was allowing Jesus to fight for me.

Three times I was lazy and allowed my mind to entertain the smoking triggers - three times after receiving prayer I had a cigarette. Although it's important to point out that I didn't crave nicotine, but I had entered the trap. I had allowed the thoughts to penetrate and lead to no good.

Over a year later, I still get the occasional trigger and each time I thank Jesus for continuing to break those chains. I can't believe I haven't smoked for so long and neither can members of my family. They honestly thought that I was so spiritually attached to it that I would be smoking until the day I died.

In fact the very experience has spoken volumes to my grandmother who has strengthened her own faith through this and also my sister who has given her heart to the Lord because she has seen through this just how real He is. How real Jesus is! This testimony is written by Awhina Leca, but belongs to God. Please feel free to copy it and share it.

Another young woman named Juliana writes after being delivered of her smoking habit." It was a miracle! I could not resist smoking before, and now, there I was, throwing the lighter away over the hill." "Coises! These Christians are getting free! Soon there'll be no houses' left for us demons!"

Other scriptures relevant to smoking

John 8:44
... you belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [NIV]

John 8:44
For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth -- there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. [TLB]

John 8:45
And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe it! [TLB]

Deuteronomy 18:10-13
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. [NIV]

Deuteronomy 18:10-13
For example, any Israeli who presents his child to be burned to death as a sacrifice to heathen gods must be killed. No Israeli may practice black magic, or call on the evil spirits for aid, or be a fortune teller, or be a serpent charmer, medium, or wizard, or call forth the spirits of the dead.

Anyone doing these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord, and it is because the nations do these things that the Lord your God will displace them. You must walk blamelessly before the Lord your God. [TLB]

Isaiah 66:3-4
But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol.

They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." [NIV]

Isaiah 66:3-4
"But those who choose their own ways, delighting in their sins, are cursed. God will not accept their offerings. When such men sacrifice an ox on the altar of God, it is no more acceptable to him than human sacrifice. If they sacrifice a lamb or bring an offering of grain, it is as loathsome to God as putting a dog or the blood of a swine on his altar!

When they burn incense to him, he counts it the same as though they blessed an idol. I will send great troubles upon them -- all the things they feared, for when I called them, they refused to answer, and when I spoke to them, they would not hear. Instead, they did wrong before my eyes and chose what they knew I despised." [TLB]

Isaiah 65:3-7
A people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat; who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!'

Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day. "See, it stands written before me: I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps; both your sins and the sins of your fathers," says the Lord. "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills, I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds." [NIV]

Isaiah 65:3-7
All day long they insult me to my face by worshiping idols in many gardens and burning incense on the rooftops of their homes. At night they go out among the graves and caves to worship evil spirits, and they eat pork and other forbidden foods. Yet they say to one another, 'Don't come too close, you'll defile me! For I am holier than you!'

They stifle me. Day in and day out they infuriate me. "See, here is my decree all written out before me: I will not stand silent; I will repay. Yes, I will repay them not only for their own sins but for those of their fathers too,' says the Lord, 'for they also burned incense on the mountains and insulted me upon the hills. I will pay them back in full. [TLB]

Jeremiah 44:23
The very reason all these terrible things have befallen you is because you have burned incense and sinned against the Lord and refused to obey him." [TLB]

Psalm 141:2
Regard my prayer as my evening sacrifice and as incense wafting up to you. [TLB]

Proverbs 4:20-22
Listen, son of mine, to what I say. Listen carefully. Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they will mean real life for you and radiant health. [TLB]

Miracle prayer

Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan and his evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I believe that God the Father raised you from death and that you are alive to save me right now.

I invite you into my life, Jesus, and I accept you as my Lord God and Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit. Come, Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you, Lord Jesus. I praise you, Lord Jesus. I thank you, Lord Jesus. shall follow you every day of my life. Amen.

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As atrocious and inhumane as slavery was, this Senate resolution was not mentioned on one major news television outlet in America.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday, June 18, 2009, passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery. The nonbinding resolution sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is similar to a House resolution adopted in 2008 that acknowledged the wrongs of slavery but offered no reparations.

The House will have to vote on the issue again because the composition of that chamber changed after the November 2008 elections. The resolution was approved on a voice vote.

Because it is nonbinding, it does not have to be forwarded to the President of the United States for his signature. Several states have passed similar resolutions, but the House resolution was the first time a branch of the federal government did so.

Harkin's resolution acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery, and Jim Crow laws, and apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted mostly in U.S. Southern and border states between the 1870s and 1965 that denied African-Americans the right to vote and other civil liberties, as well as legally segregated them from whites.

Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery.

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If you are going to do business with God, the currency is forgiveness.

Hello Beloved reader. I decided to write this unforgiveness article for you because it helped me. A few months back I attended an open-to-the-public ministry session where these questions were asked. I think many of us Christians were surprised at how many times we answered yes. Remember now – be honest with yourself. No one will see your paper but you.

Unforgiveness is one of the most powerful enemies in the body of Christ today. Do you know how many illnesses or infirmities are directly related to unforgiveness? One thing all people who are called to work in healing and deliverance should know when dealing with illnesses is to learn if the person standing or sitting before them has an issue with unforgiveness.

It is critical to learn if there is a single person that they’ve not forgiven. It is necessary to ask the person when exactly in their life were they diagnosed with the illness. Proceed to ask the person what life events were going on at or near that time. Often, the following are typical responses a person might give.

I've experienced betrayal. I lost my job and the boss could have let another person go because I was there longer. These are two of many reasons any person could share as to why they’ve not forgiven someone.

Now listen, beloved reader, do you know that sometimes people have instantly been healed of their infirmity on the spot once this unforgiveness has been taken care of spiritually. Keep in mind this is one of four things that must be addressed in an integrated healing & deliverance ministry session.

Will you get out a piece of paper and a pen, pretty please? Now, read the statements below. Each time the statement is true for you, make a check mark on your paper. Once you’re done reading each statement on the unforgiveness stronghold, you’ll talley up your score.

Answer these unforgiveness questions honestly

1) I find myself holding grudges.

2) I retreat into isolation from others.

3) I erupt in anger or I boil inside.

4) I think of ways to get even with others who hurt me.

5) I just bury the wrongs done to me without really addressing them.

6) I pity myself.

7) I carry bitterness and anger towards those who have hindered me or willfully, purposely wronged me.

8) Instead of stating the truth, I make excuses for those who wronged or hurt me.

9) I often feel sorry for myself.

10) Occasionally I think I truly am some kind of martyr.

11) Nobody has had it as bad as me.

12) I want to get even with people who’ve cause me pain.

13) I insulate or protect myself behind the walls of defensiveness.

14) I don’t trust others.

15) I just can’t forgive [which really is you want forgive].

16) I’m anger with God for allowing bad things to happen to me.

17) I act like nothing happen instead of confronting issues that have hurt me.

18) I can’t get over my past.

Please talley up your check marks to see how you scored.

If you have 1 – 4 check marks, you’re in the lower percentile [25%] of operating in unforgiveness.

If you have 5 – 9 check marks, you’re in the middle percentile [50%] of operating in unforgiveness. This is average for most Christians. Now, we all know what the Bible clearly states about any unforgiveness, right? So even if you scored in the lowest percentile, it needs to be taken care of.

If you have 10 – 14 check marks, you’re in the upper percentile [75%] of operating in unforgiveness. Yep, you betcha – this sure enough has to be addressed because you’re in bondage beloved.

If you have 15 or more check marks, you very likely have the stronghold of unforgiveness. If you don’t know how to break this stronghold and remove the demons holding it in place in your life, learn or go receive ministry please. What book would I suggest that’s a must read, Biblical Healing & Deliverance: An Integrated Approach to Biblical Healing Ministry by Chester & Betsy Kylstra.

Beloved reader, you already know the key to forgiveness is releasing the debt. By forgiving, you are not justifying what the person did to you is okay. By forgiving, you are not minimizing the devastating impact what they did has had on your life.

Well, here's the age old question – why is it that it’s so darn hard to forgive some things, some people. It is because the one time hurt or the repeated hurt has wounded your soul or wounded your spirit or wounded both. Usually the hurt(s), even though they can’t be seen, have really crippled you inside. The crippling could be mentally and/or emotionally and/or physically. Some hurts have downright debilitated some of us to the point that illness occurs.

And if we're transparent here, not forgiving the person make some Christians they have a [false] sense of power over the person [especially if the person wants to be forgiven]. As long as we choose to not forgive any person for any thing, we literally carry that person with us daily. What do I mean? You have a shackle attached to a ball-and-chain at the bottom of your ankle.

The weighted ball-and-chain is directly attached to each person you've not forgiven. You literally carry their body weight around with you all day long. In the shower, to bed with you, in the car with you, to the grocery store with you. More importantly, you carry those you've not forgiven with you mentally and emotionally every day, which is yet another reason you're weighted down internally. Although we still respond to people saying, "We're fine, blessed, highly favored."

So beloved reader – we’re at a crossroads here. The Bible says to forgive and that forgiveness is non-negotiable. Well yeah, this is true. What’s been learned in integrated healing & deliverance is sometimes we first have to have the Holy Spirit take care of the hurts at every spiritual and emotional level before the forgiveness can even be approached. And in very extreme cases, the forgiveness takes times, like in layers, which is better than not at all.

Please know if you are a person who works in ministry or if you are a leader of any kind, people will violate you. You cannot afford to allow this unforgiveness to place you in bondage. Let’s look at Joseph’s life in the Bible. He had so many reasons to not forgive his brothers. What did Joseph do [Genesis 39]? He stayed before the Lord, and yes, he forgave his family. Even though Joseph was a grown man, he sobbed like a child.

What is forgivness?

Is a spiritual decision to release the person, entity, institution or group who hurt you, betrayed you

Is cancelling someone from the consequence of falling short of God’s standard in your life

Is releasing resentment toward the very person who exacted very real hurt on you

Is dismissing our demand that the person owes us something

Is releasing the right to be bitter

Is releasing the right to get even

Is of God

Is releasing the right to hear the words, “I’m sorry.”

Is an act of our spiritual will

Is a process especially for those who’ve been abused/deeply hurt

What forgiveness is not

Is not a feeling

Is not an emotion

Is not being a doormat

Is not conditional

Is not stuffing your anger

Is not based on what’s fair

Is not excusing the wrong done to you

Is not justifying the wrong done to you

Is not you executing God’s wrath

Is not repentance

Is not based on what a person deserves

Is not you waiting for time to heal all wounds

Is not reconciliation [requires a minimum of two people] [forgiveness only requires 1 person]

Is not enablement [a form of people pleasing and repeatedly having no boundaries]

Is not letting the guilty off the hook, you are placing them on God’s hook

Is not denying that the wrong happened to you

The characteristics of an unforgiver

Danger - If you persist in resisting and disobeying God by being unforgiving [or whatever the sin is], you can eventually to given over to the influence of evil, satan and immorality. Acts 7:42

does not agree with God that sin is sin

delayed or even the prevention of spiritual growth

heart is turned away from God

go through verbal acts of repentance

an unforgiver often has diseases & functionally sick

is limited in hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit

an unforgiver can have psychological problems

an unforgiver can be a person laden with stress

elevate yourself above your offender

you’re emotionally stuck to your offender

you share negative information about offender

automatically open the door to satan and his demons

a hardened heart, a condemning heart

tend to be verbally abusive

blind that you’re becoming like your offender

an unforgiver ages faster

being an unforgiver affects your body’s ability to fight disease by weakening your immune system

an unforgiver can have emotional instability – fly off the handle easily or show very little emotion

Define the spirit of unforgivness, which is a stronghold

A simple word to describe this spirit of unforgiveness – hurt, a person who is deeply hurt.

A spirit of unforgiveness goes beyond temporary unwillingness to forgive.

The spirit of unforgiveness is a spiritual acid that eats through the spirit within us.

The spirit of unforgiveness is a supernatural cancer that slowly and deliberately eats you up.

There is a long time period between the time you are hurt and the time you forgive the person who hurt you.

When does unforgiveness become a stronghold?

When you refuse to forgive and the unresolved anger develops a fortified place in your mind and heart; you become mentally captive to do the enemy’s will. Ephesians 6:16

The three parts of forgiveness

Part 1 |Horizontal line of The Cross -- Forgiving others and others forgiving you

Especially needed toward family and church members because this is where most hurts come from

Part 2 | Vertical line of The Cross -- Receiving God forgiveness and us releasing God

Part 3 | Circle or halo where The Cross intersects -- Forgiving yourself and receiving forgiveness from self

Why do Christians have the most difficulty forgiving themselves than any other person?

Lie no. 1 - Sin we committed, the offense is too big to forgive

Lie no. 2 - We knew better and committed the sin anyway

Lie no. 3 - It’s a habitual sin and we continue to do it, it doesn’t deserve grace

Lie no. 4 - We’re so shamed by the sin, we should not exchange the shame for forgiveness

Lie no. 5 – You believe you don’t deserve forgiveness because of who you are

Here, it’s effective to say your own name.

For example, “Your name goes right here, I forgive myself for ____.”

So why do you not forgive when you know to do so

What was done to you or by you was too big

The hurt was planned, intentional and/or repeated

No modeling of forgiveness from our parents

They didn’t forgive me, I will not forgive them

You deny it never happened

Don’t understand God’s forgiveness

You believe the lie that bitterness is a normal response because God knows how you feel.

The pain is so deep [even though it may be simple to others] you just don’t know where to begin.

It is here where you allow the Holy Spirit to heal the pain completely first, then you’re able to forgive.

How does unforgiveness affect your prayer life?

blessings are withheld from us

our prayer life is blocked

we are spiritually dim

God doesn’t forgive us

God resists you

What is unforgiveness?

unforgiveness is a form of pride

is of satan and his demons

grieves the Holy Spirit

showcases a godless heart

keeps us in bondage to sin

is an offense to God, which makes us an offender to God

Forgiveness scriptures

Ephesians 4:30 – 32

Matthew 18: 21, 34 – 35

II Corinthians 2: 10 -11

Matthew 6:12

Mark 11:25

Luke 17: 3 – 4

Luke 23:34

James 4:32

Acts 10:43

Acts 6:4

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I decided to post this blog below because my life and my family's life has been adversely, negatively affected by being a part of the Masonic and Eastern Stars. Yes, I know the organizations are presented as community organizations, especially to Christians.

My life has done a 180 degree turn since I made the decision to renounce my family's historical and generational involvement in these organizations that are part of the occult. I made the decision to break the biblical, generational curses that are automatically active in your life once you join these organizations. Those in my family who have chosen not to do so still suffer to this very day.

They shrug their repeated life mishappenings as a bad day, bad luck, or whatever they choose to pawn it off on. The Holy Spirit can speak to you better than any person. I challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about your involvement or your family's involvements in any society or organization that has initiations or secrets. My dearly beloved believers in the body of Christ, the Bible is very clear about this subject.

While pastoring a church in Arkansas, I was asked to take a church that was on a spiritual and numeric decline.

I accepted the call, and in November 1990, 1 became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Columbia, Louisiana.

For the first few months, the chairman of the Pulpit Committee regularly visited my office telling me what I could or could not do.

He was especially opposed to door-to-door evangelism.

Soon I learned that a group of other men shared his views.

They criticized most of the former pastors and even explained in detail how they had "railroaded" a full-time youth pastor out of the church.

His removal was so slick, they said, that no one in the congregation knew what was happening.

Their message was clear, "Do what we want, or we will do the same to you."

They kept me so busy carrying out their plans, projects, and agendas that I had little time to
listen to God.

When I would move in the direction I felt God wanted, one of them would show up with all kinds of plans and projects. I was continually derailed from God's leading.

There was small numeric growth with these activities, but the church was spiritually dead.

Worship was oppressive, as if a dark cloud hovered over the services.

Throughout this time the chairman of the Pulpit Committee repeatedly gave me a funny handshake. I had no clue
what he was doing.

Finally, God began to speak to me that I needed to listen to His direction, not the direction of these men.

His Words were so clear, "Concentrate on worship, revival, evangelism, and making disciples."

When I first began to emphasize worship, I sensed resistance from the Minister of Music, who proudly wore his Masonic ring and tie tack.

Several months later, however, he went through a spiritual crisis and prayed to receive Christ.

Two weeks later he gave his testimony in church.

After his testimony, I stood to invite others to come forward and receive Christ.

I was shocked at what I saw.

Although there was rejoicing on a few faces, most were hostile - so hostile that it sent chills up and down my spine.

As I looked at their faces, I identified them as Masons and their Eastern Star wives.

"This is demonic," I thought. When I started two discipleship groups, there was tremendous resistance within the deacon body.

One deacon, who was also a Mason, tried to wreck every session.

When I emphasized a personal relationship with Jesus, he became combative and hostile.

He argued so much during Wednesday night Bible study that I had to switch to straight preaching.

Hungry for fellowship, I had been praying for months for a soul-winning partner.

God answered that prayer when the Music Minister expressed a desire to go out witnessing.

We went from house to house sharing Jesus, and quietly, without fanfare, his Masonic ring and
tie tack disappeared.

He told me that God had convicted him about being a Mason, and that he had formally renounced Freemasonry through a letter of resignation sent to the lodge.

Gradually, a group in the church began to catch a vision for having a personal walk with Jesus, learning discipleship, and evangelism.

The church services began to change.

I could feel God's presence in every service.

The Masons, however, were not rejoicing.

The one who had so frequently given me the Masonic handshake, called my home and threatened me that
if I didn't get the Minister of Music "calmed down," the deacons would "take care of him."

As one group in the church grew closer to Jesus, another group became increasingly resistant
toward what God was doing, and hostile toward me as pastor.

Seven couples began forming a wall of resistance.

Of the seven couples, two individuals were not Masons, nor members of the Eastern Star. One was a Seventh Day Adventist, and the other's father was a 32nd Degree Mason.

During this same period, a sister church was experiencing a touch of God, with the same resistance from Masons.

Not willing to participate in the battle, several couples left that church and came to ours.

They openly acknowledged that they had been upset because the Masons had squelched the moving of God in that church.

The Masonic group in our church immediately began a verbal attack against the newcomers.

One Mason summoned me to his house and warned me that the newcomers could cause trouble in our church because of their attacks on Masonry.

He revealed that he was a Mason and that there was not going to be a discussion of Freemasonry at First Baptist.

He warned that a previous pastor had tried to deal with the Masonic issue in the church and had created
problems as a result.

I located the former pastor and learned that he had maintained a bookstore which contained several books exposing Freemasonry.

One night someone broke into the store and stole all the books on Masonry.

"If Freemasonry is just a harmless men's fraternity, why get upset about a few books?

Why all the scrambling to hide books and refuse to even discuss Masonry?

If Masonry is of God, let's bring everything out in the open and see what wonderful things God has done in Masonry.

But if it is not of God, then there are many reasons to operate in darkness and secrecy."

These were my thoughts.

It was at this time we began experiencing demonic manifestations during the services.

Usually the demons would surface when I preached on our victory over Satan through the blood of Christ.

Any aspect of victory in the Christian life or salvation messages would stir up the demons.

During a series of messages on revival, and the filling of the Holy Spirit, there was considerable agitation.

All of those with demonic manifestations were either Masons or Eastern Star wives.

Hostility toward me began to increase, all directed by the Masons.

Deacons' meetings became nothing more than open season on the pastor.

Again, led by the Masons.

Finally, the man who had given me numerous Masonic handshakes came to my office, tearing into me about the spiritual atmosphere that was developing within the church.

As he was verbally attacking me, suddenly a force, as it were, came out from him and hit me.

Evil surrounded me. I sensed oppression.

Within two days the oppression became deep depression.

All that week I read books on spiritual warfare to educate myself on what was happening.

By Sunday a black cloud of spiritual oppression had settled over the entire church.

I told no one of my encounter with the Mason, yet several people verbally expressed that things were different in the church.

This oppression continued for eight months, while life for me and my family was a living hell.

It was as though sharks could smell blood and were coming in for the kill.

Vicious attacks by the Masons were leveled against me and my family, and against all who
supported me.

I became so physically ill that I had to enter the hospital for two weeks.

The church decided to give me a three-month sabbatical, which at first seemed compassionate.

It soon was evident that this generous action was a disguise to buy time, so that the Masons could remove me from the church.

When I returned from my sabbatical, the deacons informed me that I was no longer pastor - that the church would have to vote me back in.

This was one of those instances in which a few deacons decided their own agenda privately.

No one else knew what was going on.

This is the way satan works - always in the dark, in secret, behind closed doors.

satan lost temporarily.

The vote was never taken and I was permitted to resume preaching.

Two months later, at a monthly business meeting, the Masonic group succeeded in voting me out.

The members voting against me included many who had rarely come to church, and some I had never seen before! I was not permitted to speak, and the meeting was so hostile that I thought I was going to be mobbed.

Those who were yelling, screaming, and jumping out of their seats were one and all Masons and their Eastern Star wives.

Shortly after leaving First Baptist I had a counseling session with Dr. Mark Bubek, who is well known both nationally and internationally for his experience in spiritual warfare.

After hearing about the man who regularly harassed me in my office, his first question was, "Is he a Mason?"

He confirmed that I had been under heavy demonic attack.

I never preached against Masonry, so the attack was not a counterattack.

It was simply that the spirit behind Freemasonry opposes anything God-sent, Christ-exalted, Spirit empowered
that brings revival to the church.

Yes, the Masons reacted negatively to my messages on grace.

They were infuriated when I suggested man could not earn his way to heaven.

They were not opposed to inviting people to church.

They were opposed to the evangelism that was taking place in church, once the visitors arrived.

And they were greatly offended by the fact that people in the church were going door-to-door in the community, asking people if they knew that they had eternal life.

The Masonic message is one that abhors a Christian life that has Jesus Christ at the center.

The Masons in Columbia regard First Baptist as an extension of their lodge.

Well, they have preserved that extension, for today First Baptist has disintegrated into a handful of men and
women, primarily the Masonic and Eastern Star group.

The price of their success was the destruction of a house of God, and the persecution of its pastor and many God-fearing people.

Such is the spirit and purpose of Freemasonry.

What are pastors to do? First, take a stand on Freemasonry. Second, write your position in a letter and mail it to your
national headquarters.

By Stuart Bedillion

Stewart Bedillion
Ephesians 5:11, Inc., Box 291, Fishers, IN 46038
Email | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Order video | http://www.ephesians5-11.org/videotape.htm

Copyright 1997. This testimony is used with permission. It is from the 1998 reprint of The Character, Claims and Practical Workings of Freemasonry, by Charles G. Finney. It was originally published in 1869. The book is available from JKI Publishing at (800) 333-5344.

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By Dr. David Kyle Foster

1. Masturbation can be the vehicle whereby the inhibited person maintains their propensity to remain self-contained and in need of no one. It deepens the trenches of loneliness, self-pity and self-centeredness.

2. Masturbation is a turning in on one's self -- a narcissistic neurosis that feeds introspection and other dysfunctional directions. This kind of inwardly focused life robs people of the fullness of life that Christ came to give.

3. Masturbation can become a gateway for demonic strongholds to develop. This becomes more and more likely as one delves deeper and deeper into pornography and perverse sexual fantasies.

4. This behavior serves to program the mind to focus on fantasy as the source of pleasure rather than the biblical model of union with one's spouse. People come to be seen as objects rather than real people. It is an elaborate scheme of the enemy [satan and his demons] to keep us from learning how to be intimate with our spouse and our God.

5. When someone takes up the practice of masturbation, they are programming themselves to turn to solutions that block or hide problems rather than solve them. This immature life-pattern for problem-solving is highly dysfunctional and is the foundation upon which is laid a lifetime of addictive behavior.

6. Masturbation has a physically addictive side to it that serves to block pain. The chemicals that are released into the brain serve to medicate pain much like any addictive drug. God wants us to bring our pain to Him. He wants us to grow through it and receive the blessing of sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

7. Masturbation is a task master that demands the continual plumbing of new and more perverse depths of lust. On that treadmill, the mind is programmed to more and more highly delineated sexual fantasies, which the marriage bed can never match. Normal marital relations become a disappointment and the design for sex thwarted. The body also becomes programmed to achieve release quickly, which serves to frustrate the patterns of healthy sexual intercourse between spouses.

8. A clutching at the genitals by infants is often a manifestation of separation anxiety, but that same behavior in childhood is often a sign of sexual abuse or some other cause for significant internal anxiety in the child. If the child uses a mirror during the act, that is a scenario that can result in homosexual confusion, as the child programs their mind to associate sexual pleasure with the sight of their own body. [In such cases, other factors that lead to homosexual neurosis are probably also present, such as molestation or failure to bond on an emotional level with the same-sex parent]. Adolescent experimentation at puberty is normal and not a cause for alarm unless it becomes habitual.

What does the Bible Say?

One of the most prevalent rationalizations that people use is that the Bible never mentions masturbation and that it must therefore be alright. Is that logical? Is child molestation alright then? It's not specifically forbidden in the Bible. How about shooting heroin? Or how about torturing someone? Not mentioned! You see how illogical the argument quickly becomes.

How do we know that smoking dope is against the will of God, for example? We discover the answer by uncovering the principles found in scripture - most specifically those concerning the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit and those commanding us to obey governmental authority. We also know sin by the witness of the Holy Spirit within, provided we haven't quenched that witness through ongoing rebellion.

The most obvious biblical principle that is applicable to masturbation is found in Matthew 5:28 where Jesus indicates that lusting after someone in the heart is the same as actually doing it. I am violating whomever I am picturing in my mind during the act of masturbation. It really doesn't matter whether it is a picture from a magazine, [Those are real people!], or someone I've met or a memory of some act committed in the past.

And if I can discipline my mind to think of no one, what of that?

Attainment of such focus only serves to make obvious the desperation and obsession that drives us to such lengths. The principles found in I Corinthians 6:12; II Peter 2:19; and Romans 6:14 clearly emerge as foundational to our plight -- that we are slaves to whatever masters us. When we get truly honest about the habit of masturbation, it is clear that it is a behavior that controls us -- one that we use to medicate pain, to alleviate stress or to forget rejection. In that way, it is similar to a drug habit -- just one more vehicle to avoid turning to God.

Why won't we turn to God? We may be ashamed. We may believe that He's going to judge and punish us. We may not trust Him. Or, it simply may never occur to us. We don't normally see God as being involved in the fulfillment of our sexual lives. He's a Spirit after all and we are physical creatures. And yet, He is in fact the answer to every problem. He can quench our unholy desire and He can teach us to respond to problems by working through them rather than from running from them.

Confessing the Right Things

It is important that I discover the root sin issues so that I can repent of them. If I am unaware of one or more of these strongholds, I will inevitably remain bound because my unrepented sin will continue to give Satan ground to hold me in bondage. Much of the transformation process involves discovering where Satan's ground is and removing it with the tools that God has provided. What then are some of the root sin issues that need to be confessed?

1. Unbelief

Unbelief Is the doubt that God is really good. When I sin any sin, I am in that moment doubting that God is really there for me, that He cares, and therefore, that He is good. I am re-enacting the first sin committed in the Garden of Eden, when Eve became convinced that God was keeping from her something that was good.

The truth is, God has something better than the coping mechanism of masturbation -- even for the single person. He has something higher, something that will bring completion and satisfaction to one's sexual self. It is this truth that is most effective in being persuaded to forsake the sin.

2. Idolatry

Ephesians 5:3-5 clearly teaches that sexual immorality is a form of idolatry. Often masturbation becomes a source of life and peace, especially for those who have lived through great pain. It becomes a substitute god. Should the Spirit come to offer freedom, many will recoil in terror at the realization that they are being asked to live without something that has been a primary source of peace in their lives - something that has kept them from falling apart. The behavior becomes so entrenched in their sense of being that life without it becomes unimaginable.

Like the worship of any god, masturbation has its own fetish objects and rituals -- times, places, triggers, ritual objects, and ritual patterns that draw the person into an almost trance-like progression toward the peak experience and denouement. Confessing the ritual worship and removing or renouncing its various components is key to seeing its power broken.

3. Rebellion

Sometimes we simply refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit or pretend not to hear Him. The self-care of masturbation often cloaks anger and distrust of God, who never seemed to be there when we needed Him. Often in childhood, when God doesn't rescue us or change us upon demand, we judge Him in our hearts and develop a root of anger that must be removed through confession and repentance. That means we acknowledge our rebellion and make concerted choices to love Him and to believe that given the context of human free will, God operates with complete integrity and love.

4. Love of Sin

This one is often buried under mounds of rationalizations. We pretend that we need to practice the sin, we deserve to practice it, it's the least God can do to allow it considering what we've gone through, etc. But the truth is, we love it more than we love God. In order to change this, we need to discover how to love God more. Greater love for God comes as a fruit of taking the time to know Him intimately. A lifestyle of worship is important. The demonic realm cannot stand that. Meditating on the Cross is also a major key. As we gain a deeper appreciation for our Lord's suffering, we become more willing to jettison the things that have charmed us most [as the old hymn says]. When tempted, we only need ask ourselves, Who do I love right now - the sin that is tempting me, or the One who loves me so deeply that He died on the Cross for me? Put that way, the choice becomes far easier to make.

5. Self-deception

It is a humbling thing to realize that over the years we become masters at deceiving ourselves into believing we want freedom from something that we will not give up. Like an onion, we lay down layer upon layer of self-deception, saying the right religious words and thinking the right religious thoughts, while still refusing to forsake the desire for the sin that lingers in our hearts. We need to acknowledge before God the ongoing impurity in our motivation, the depravity in our heart, and our need for Him to give us the true heartfelt desire to be holy and pure.

6. Performance-righteousness

Most of us, even those who know better, continually fall into this trap. Though we talk of grace alone and being able to do nothing without Christ, our fallen nature continuously seduces our minds into believing that we must earn God's love and acceptance and that we must develop our own righteousness. Over and over again we try to make ourselves holy and pure rather than suffer the humiliation of the flesh and truly become dependent on God for the power to live the kingdom life that He won for us on the Cross.

The Long and Winding Road to Freedom

It would be nice if God would just zap us and make us permanently free from sin and bondage. But the process of sanctification is often arduous. Through it we learn to value the end result, depend on Him, love Him, trust Him, hate evil and give all glory, praise and honor to God and God alone.

The foundational principles by which our Lord sets us free from masturbation are no different than those for any other sin and bondage. Simply put, set your focus on Him [rather than your problem] and let His Spirit guide you the rest of the way. In moments of intimacy with Him, God will lead you through a complete shift in your priorities. He will transform your affections and belief systems. He will deepen your desire and determination to be liberated. He will expose and heal the hidden emotional and sin problems that have fed your bondage. And He will strengthen your willingness to believe and to act on His promises.

1. Learn to give yourself grace. It took you a long time to develop the problem, so in moments of failure, turn and receive the love and grace of God. He is pleased with you because of Christ's sacrifice on your behalf and because deep in your heart, you loved Him enough to commit your life to His Son. God has grace to spare. In fact, it is His grace in the midst of our failure that ultimately yields the fruit of obedience [Titus 2:11-14].

2. Permanently set your heart and mind to turn to God at the first moment of temptation and with acknowledged weakness and dependency, cry out to Him for His power to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Commit to being ruthless with temptation -- giving it no place. Let Christ answer the door when it comes knocking!

3. Remove every influence that leads you into desiring and repeating the behavior. Ask God to show you what these are. Break the ritual patterns and remove the ritual objects as God reveals them to you.

4. Practice believing that God has something better -- that He can indeed fulfill the needs that are temporarily being met through the illegitimate means of masturbation.

5. Spend significant, quality time with God in praise, worship, prayer and scripture reading. Pour out your heart to Him. Develop the same intimate relational knowing of God that you would with a spouse. Ask Him to implant within your mind a healthy view of sex and the sexuality of others. Ask Him to give you a love of purity, seeking Him passionately in the beauty of His holiness [Psalm 96:9]. Listen to Him as He unlocks for you the unique keys to your transformation. Listen with a heart set on obeying His direction no matter what He may suggest.

6. Refuse to submit to Satan's barrage of self-condemning thoughts when you fall. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:1]. Call any thought or feeling to the contrary the lie that it is and reject it. Repent and then run back into your Daddy's arms.

7. Learn what God really thinks of you by meditating on the Cross. Reject the lies of self-hatred, loathing and shame that are in actuality, elaborate challenges to the Cross of Christ and the promises of God.

Know that God has the will and the power to set anyone free from anything. Go for the free indeed promise. Seek not the maintenance program of the world, but the transformation program of the kingdom of God!

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