Month: August 2016

I’m not a fan of Billy Ray Cyrus. And I definitely don’t consider his early 90s song “Achy Breaky Heart” on my best-listening list. But I’ve wondered why such a relatively talented guy with multiple abilities has always seemed on the edge of disaster. Rumored infidelities regarding his wife. The moral abominations of his daughter Miley. How could such a good-looking family with numerous opportunities for stardom, always be on the verge of implosion? This week, sitting in an airport, reading “USA Today” I found my answer in an inside cover story about Cyrus. His bloodline is Cherokee Indian.

From my experience as an exorcist, out of all the native American tribes, the worst curses of witchcraft come from the Cherokee.Now, before anyone cries, “Racist,” a bit of history. In 1830, the American government, acting on behalf of powerful interests who wanted to mine gold on Cherokee land, passed the Indian Removal Act. Several tribes, notably the Cherokee, were moved from the southeastern part of the U. S, where they lived, to designated areas west of the Mississippi. They were forced to march, on foot, hundreds of miles. Of approximately 16,000+ who were relocated, as many as 6,000 or more died on the way under brutal conditions. (Other so-called “civilized” tribes were also removed, including Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muskogee, and Seminole.) Dispossessed of their lands, the Cherokee set the stage for other tribes who were forced into similar “death marches.” Violence, disease, weather, and starvation took a genocidal toll.

So what has this to do with Billy Ray? I have ministered to many hundreds of people who have Cherokee generational blood. Such an identity almost always leads to serious spiritual oppression, even demonic possession. Why? Here is what I’ve discovered in countless exorcisms. Many Cherokee were so angered by their treatment that they put powerful witchcraft curses on their white overlords. Those curses, in turn, boomeranged right back on the Cherokee in a vicious cycles of evil on their descendants. If you or anyone you know has Cherokee heritage, they are badly in need of serious curse breaking. (To get my book CURSE BREAKING, CLICK HERE.) Don’t allow any Cherokee curse in your past to become a spiritual “wrecking ball” (inside pop-music reference) to achy break your spiritual heart.

An encouraging word: LET CHRIST PRUNE YOU

In that wonderful account of Christ’s words in John 15, where He speaks of our relationship to Him as that of a vine and branches, the Lord makes a stunning statement. Jesus speaks of His Father and warns, “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes” (John 15:2). Christ is referring to good Christians. Dedicated Christians. Those who are actually bearing spiritual fruit. And the Lord declares that these are the ones whom God in Heaven “prunes.” If today you are feeling a little “pruned,” as if the Lord is testing you in some way, rejoice. God is preparing you for great things and even more fruit for His glory.

Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18).  You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online.

I have a dream that, in my lifetime, exorcism and inner healing will finally come out of the shadows of the evangelical church and receive mainstream acceptance. I realize this is a lot to hope for, but with God it’s possible. The current article about our ministry in “People” magazine (50 million readers!) is a huge step in that direction. If you haven’t seen the issue, it’s still on the stands in many cities. Check for the August 22 edition with Jon Benet on the cover. You can also get the “People” app and read the story on a mobile device.

When you get your copy of “People” you’ll find articles about gold-medal Olympians and Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp and the late Elvis Presley. But right in the middle of the magazine, you’ll see a two-page foldout photo of me, my oldest daughter Brynne, and her two friends-the three of them known as the All-American Exorcists. You can’t get more mainstream than that! There I am, holding my cross, and intently, looking straight ahead at millions and millions of eyeballs.

No longer can churches who oppose exorcism argue that deliverance is just an ancient ritual or unnecessary in our time. Critics of deliverance can’t hide behind poor biblical exegesis to disrespect those who cast out demons by Christ’s power. This fair, well-written story in “People” demonstrates the huge interest of the secular world in things regarding demons and the devil. The reporters, photographers, and videographers of “People” followed us for days, asking tough questions. They looked for facts to report this story. How sad that too many born-again Christians want to stay stuck in their religious prejudices.

Read the story. It speaks for itself. Go to the web site and watch the video documentary that “People” produced. (To view CLICK HERE.) Decide for yourself if casting out demons was just for the apostles or whether it is a viable ministry for our spiritually desperate times. The miracles of Christ are still available today. Deliverance and exorcism are going mainstream. To our evangelical citics I say, “You can’t kick us to the back of the bus anymore.” “People” has put us front and center, by God’s grace. This article is the Lord’s doing and He is making a point. Wake up church, Jesus still sets the captives free!

An encouraging word: JESUS STILL DOES MIRACLES

I heard a disturbing sermon Sunday. The preacher meant well, and the rest of what he said was great. His emphasis was evangelism. In the midst of his appeal to witness to the lost, he commented that the disciples weren’t truly born again until after the resurrection. You can guess his theological bent. He left out an important fact. The followers of Jesus were casting out demons before the crucifixion. Of course, the idea of exorcism is far beyond the theological consideration of this pastor. But the fact that the disciples performed miracles in the name of Jesus shows that they were abiding in him, pre-Resurrection and pre-Pentecost. If your pastor or church has left out the signs and wonders of Jesus, just read the Bible. What the preacher overlooked you can read for yourself.

Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18).  You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online.

Some call it “territorial spiritual warfare.” It’s the idea that God has called us to wage warfare in the heavens and pull down demonic, geographical strongholds. On the surface it sounds good. Wouldn’t it be great to demolish whatever demon is charge over Hollywood? Washington D. C.? Groups that believe in this get together to shout, pray, sing, and declare that the evil spirits over their city, or state, or whatever are coming down, in Jesus’ name. I find the whole movement a bit disturbing. In theory it’s possible, in selected situations, and may be effective on occasion. But as an overall strategy of spiritual warfare it’s effect is overblown and may even play into the devil’s hands. Here’s why.

First, it’s just not biblical. At least not with the scale, frequency, and seriousness advocated by some. We are repeatedly commanded by Christ to cast out demons from human beings, and to set the captives free by liberating individuals from demonic invasion; however not once did Christ tell us to cast demons out of the heavens. Here is what he did tell us:

Matt 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, NKJV

Mark 6:7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. NKJV

Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, NKJV

If territorial spiritual warfare were a legitimate strategy worthy of serious activity, you’d think the Lord himself would have done it a time or two, just to bring the godlessness of Rome to its knees. But the Savior never mentioned it and neither did the apostles. Yes, I know there are ruling spirts over territories. The Book of Daniel (10:13) points that out. But there are no indications it’s our job as believers to take them on with any sort of regularity. Such actions are definitely not included in the Great Commission of Mark 16:15. I am aware that there are “thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers” (Colossians 1:16) of evil entrenchment. Our International School of Exorcism has several Courses focused on this (To enroll CLICK HERE.); but to attack them with any periodicity is, in my opinion, questionable theological logic.

Second, most of the people who promote this kind of spiritual warfare indulge in lengthy prophesying and prayer-fests to accomplish their goal of unseating demons on high. But few of these advocates ever actually engage in real deliverance, and seldom, if at all, do aggressive exorcisms on manifesting demons. I’m talking about the kind of demons you see on our YouTube channel every week. Franky, It’s a lot tougher job to take on a real demon in a real person and battle Satan face-to-face than project prayers into the ether with indiscriminate, subjective hopes that something will happen.

I’m okay with so-called prayer-walks and binding hindering sprits in the atmosphere which interfere, from time to time. But for me, the main emphasis has always been focused on the pain of suffering individuals and taking time to expel the demonic hindrances in their lives. To neglect actual hands-on confrontations with authentic demons, in favor of contesting indefinable evil floating somewhere out there, isn’t spiritually expedient. Shout at the heavens if you will, but when your prayers come back down to earth, direct them toward real demons in tormented people, not existential spiritual forces.

An encouraging word: DON’T NEGLECT CHRIST’S SALVATION

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3). The biblical writer is emphasizing the important of salvation by pointing out that every sin, and all disobedience, will be judged at the end of time. A “just reward” will be rendered the those who are ungodly and sinners. The admonition is that, if those who disregard the offer of God’s grace are to be punished, how can any of us escape judgment if we neglect the importance of eternity. Today is the day to be certain that each of us has entered into a covenant relationship with Christ by receiving in our hearts His finished work at the cross. Beware thinking you will escape the consequences of your sin if you neglect the salvation Christ offers.

Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18).  You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online

. Not many people know that Tim Lahaye was my friend. A personal friend. When he died on July 25 it brought great sadness to me and Laura. He as a spiritual giant, best known for his “Left Behind” books, which sold 65 million copies. I remember about a year before he wrote the first “Left Behind” book that Tim asked my opinion about writing a series of fictional novels based on the rapture. It was right after we’d spent a long day of Colorado skiing together. Since I had just published a couple of ground-breaking, best-selling fictional novels, Tim valued my opinion. He wondered if I knew a fiction writer I could recommend to work with him. I was too cautious to suggest myself, so Jerry Jenkins got the job and they both became millionaires. Jenkins is certainly a better fictional writer than me, but I have to wonder, “What if . . . “That was one of many times that we schussed the slopes together. I’ll never forget a cold February week that Tim stayed in our home. One morning we bundled up and skied in 15-degree BELOW zero weather. We were so busy on the lift talking about our mutual interest in politics and the Bible that we forgot the cold. We were glad to finally get back to the house where Laura had hot chocolate waiting for us. I also remember the three-hour drive to the Denver airport when he left, precious hours of having one of the greatest men of God of our generation all to myself to pick his brain. And I’ll never forget that as a fledgling young writer he introduced me to my first major publisher. Thirty-five books later, I have Tim LaHaye to thank for my own writing career which has touched millions of lives.

Mostly I remember the times after skiing together when we’d gather by the fireplace to pray. On one particular occasion I shared with him some difficult challenges I was facing. He and I and Laura knelt together and poured our hearts out to God. It was turning point in my life. But I most of all appreciated his friendship when so many evangelicals persecuted me (and still do) for my stand on spiritual warfare. That’s not to say that Tim agreed with all my theology, but he did respect God’s hand upon my life and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. I focused on battling spiritual oppression, and he was a fundamentalist pastor. But we weren’t really that much of an odd couple when it came to loving souls and wanting people to have more of Jesus. In later years, his heart gave out and my knees were replaced, ending our sweet time of fellowship on the ski slopes. Now, two of my daughters, students at Liberty University, have enjoyed the $4.5 million student center he built for that great school.

To many, he’s the man whose books affected millions and whose theology gave an entire generation the eschatological hope of Christ’s Return. But to me, he was a ski-buddy, a humble man without pretense, and one of the dearest friends I’ve had. I’m just sorry that he missed the Rapture that he longed for.

An encouraging word: JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS

It is popular in some theologically milquetoast circles to speak admirably of the example Jesus set or his ethic of love FOR everyone. But respect for His words or the life He lived means nothing when we consider eternity. Such platitudes miss the point of His life and death. Paul stated it this way in 1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinner.” There can be no negation of this declaration of mission. Think what you will of Christ, but never mistake why He came to earth and why He died on the cross. He was more than an ethicist or a prophet. He was the Son of God and He came to die for our sins.

Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18).  You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online

In recent years it has become increasingly fashionable for Christians to drink alcohol. In some “emerging” churches (cool, hip, “evangelical”) men’s Bible study groups meet at bars. The mere suggestion that tee-totaling is a valid lifestyle is mocked. Along with piercings, tattoos, yoga, off-color language, and ego-centric worship lyrics, the idea is that reaching millennials requires avoiding making them feel uncomfortable. And imbibing booze is one more way to let the bros know it’s cool to be a Christian with Bud Lite.

New research suggests that approach may have deadly physical consequences. According to a recent study published in the scientific journal “Addiction,” nearly six percent of cancer deaths worldwide are linked to alcohol. This includes people who drink in moderate amounts, which some suds-soaked Christians might like to think is their kind of drinking. The stats in “Addiction” suggest that even slight social drinking leads annually to half a million deaths from cancer alone, to say nothing of automobile accidents and other health risks. The carcinogenic compound acetaldehyde found in alcohol can cause cancer in the liver, colon, esophagus, the prostate, throat, mouth, pancreas, skin, and female breasts. AND GET THIS: all drinkers of any amount have the same risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, breast, and pharynx! An author of the report, Jennie Connor, professor of epidemiology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, writes, “Promotion of health benefits from drinking at moderate levels is seen increasingly as disingenuous or irrelevant in comparison to the increase in risk of a range of cancers.”

Our entire family has always been abstainers. My wife’s father died of alcoholism. My grandfather on my dad’s side died of alcoholism. How foolish would it be with those genetics to drink even casually? Spare me any lectures on the wedding feast at Cana and a “little wine for thy stomach’s sake.” (Get real, they didn’t have the purified water standards we do today.) Be as avant-garde as you wish. Have that social sip of wine or that cold beer on a hot summer’s afternoon. As for me and my household, I remember the words of the ER doctor the night I was rushed to the hospital after knee surgery three years ago. I lay there dying of pulmonary embolisms, my lungs filled with blood clots. As they rushed me into surgery, the doctor asked, “Do you drink?” When I replied in the negative, he said, “Good, you have a chance to survive.” That and the findings of “Addiction” are good enough for me to avoid “heading to the mountains” for what made “Milwaukee famous.” “This Bud’s” not for me or my family. And neither is an unacceptable risk of cancer, alcoholism, and premature death.

An encouraging word: WASH YOUR HANDS IN INNOCENCE

In Psalm 26:6 David declares something remarkable: “I will wash my hands in innocence.” He was declaring himself “not guilty” of his enemies’ accusations. He didn’t say this because he had never sinned. All Bible readers know of King David’s transgressions. But he found forgiveness and moved beyond his shame. How unlike Pilate who declared of Christ, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” He wasn’t, of course. David’s witness is an example to which we all can aspire, innocence before God because of His grace and our honest confession of sin.

Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18).  You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online.