Month: September 2016

I was in Detroit a week ago. What a great night, with so many spiritual victories. Yet, in Detroit, as in any city in America, there lurks the potential for evil that can only be called “unspeakable.” That certainly was the case in suburban Dearborn Heights. Just four short days after I departed the city, a man called 911 with a blunt message: “I just killed my family.”

When police arrived at the crime scene they found that the suspect had asphyxiated his two youngest children in a car. He also shot and killed his two stepchildren and slashed and shot his wife. As officers approached the house, the man stood calmly on the porch and said his family inside was dead. The youngest to die were ages four and six, the killer’s biological children. At this point, all that authorities will say is that there was some sort of marital discord. The wife had filed for divorce in August.

Demonic? Of course. Would the worst person in the world, without Satan’s assistance, do anything so unspeakable? Interestingly, I found this story buried on page 6 of a national newspaper. Evil seems so rampant in our world today, that a crime of this measure didn’t even qualify for front-page coverage. Second Timothy 3:13  warns us that “evil men will grow worse and worse.” If that was true in Paul’s day, it is also true today by an exponential increase. I have to wonder if that man, even his whole family, had been to my seminar just days before, they’d likely all be still alive. With the Lord’s help, I could have discerned that man’s demons and ministered to him. If someone had made it possible for this troubled family to have a One-On-One Spiritual Encounter, those precious children would be alive. Unspeakable evil isn’t going away. Not with the way our world is headed. If you know someone in crisis, a marriage on the rocks, children being abused, get them to one of our seminars. Schedule an Encounter for them. Arrange for me to talk with them by Skype. Or at least get them to a local pastor or counselor before unspeakable evil becomes an unimaginable tragedy.

An encouraging word: AVOID AN EVIL HEART

“Beware,” Hebrews 3:12 warns, “lest there be in any of you an evil heart.” The biblical writer issues a very sobering statement, and he’s writing to Christians. Is it possible to know the Lord, and yet have an evil heart? This reminds me of those who oppose the suggestion that a Christian can’t have a demon. Even if one holds to that position, the truth of Hebrews 3:12 must be faced. We each need to examine ourselves daily lest the Enemy do something which inclines our hearts toward evil. The key to avoiding that is explained in the next verse which cautions to beware the “deceitfulness of sin.” Seek the Lord today, and ask him to help you avoid any act of spiritual disobedience which would lead to an “evil heart.”

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.

It’s the new buzz-word of spiritually minded millennials – MINDFULNESS. It can mean most anything to anyone. The concept was borrowed from yoga, TM, and, of course, Buddhism. Some psychologist have gotten into the act, thinking it’s a drug-free way to reduce stress and become more focused. Spiritually, it’s supposed to be the ultimate path to avoiding suffering and gaining intuitive insight. It also may induce altered states of consciousness. Proponents tout its ability to get us “into the moment,” unconditionally accepting what “is.” There’s no effort to change the way things are, just be “wakeful,” “mindful” and be present with the self. The result is, whether twisted into a yoga position or seated in a Zen posture, transcendence to a place of implicit knowledge and wisdom, of “being alive” to universal consciousness.

If all that sounds to you like New Age psycho-babble, you’re right. It is ultimately based on the lie of Buddhism, that the source of suffering is desire and therefore one needs to escape desire through direct experience of the inner-divine. So much is wrong with this assumption, I hardly know where to start. (For a detailed explanation of the dangers of Eastern Meditation read LARSON’S BOOK OF WORLD RELIGIONS, the section on “meditation.” To order CLICK HERE.) Mindfulness is based on explicit anti-biblical premises. First, to the mindful meditator there is no such thing as objective, immoral conduct known as sin; second there is no devil; third, there is no transcendent moral code; no Decalogue. Even the respected journal “Psychology Today” recommends meditating before an alter with “sacred objects” of one’s own religious tradition. If that’s not idolatry, what is?

Mindfulness usually involves breathing techniques, akin to cultivating chi in Taoism or prana in Hinduism. Stilling one’s thoughts is also crucial, shutting down the mind, and thus the cognitive will. It is in this state of acute awareness of the “now” that Christian precepts are discarded in favor of the energy of the present. In contrast, God has given us our minds and intellects that we might rationally know that He is God. In contrast to the emptiness of mindfulness, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” That requires concentrative, directive thought, not a mind adrift in the senses of the moment. As Psalm 25:4 says, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, Teach me Your paths.” Don’t discard the intelligent pursuit of truth and exchange it for the awareness of inner self. That self may be demonized by generational curses, or possessed by spirits that entered through personal iniquities. Don’t mindfully feed your inner demons. Expel them in the name of Jesus!

An encouraging word: DON’T SIT WITH WICKED PEOPLE

Want some good advice? Try the words of the Psalmist, 26:5: “I will not sit with the wicked.” In modern parlance, we’d say, “I’m not going to hang out with wicked people.” Following this rule is the way to place yourself in a position to be used of God. It also prepares you for blessings. And it helps you avoid a whole lot of problems. Of course this verse doesn’t mean to literally “sit,” although it could include that. It means to avoid evil people. Don’t go near them. When we sit with someone, we signal that we are relaxed and taking them into our circle. When it comes to the wicked, better to run than to sit, and thereby set yourself apart from all that God wants to do for you.

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.

My wife recently emailed me a unique advertisement she came across on the web. The headline was grabbing, “Cures for a Broken Heart.” Well, whose heart hasn’t been broken, at least once? And who wouldn’t be open to a solution that cured the emotional pain? The byline implored, “A holistic guide to ease the heartbreak and get you back on the path to love.” It sounded good, but that word “holistic” bothered me. Nothing per se wrong with something being “holistic,” as in being comprehensive and interconnected, like medicine treating the whole person, physically and psychologically. But it’s usually a New Age buzz-word, and a little more investigation of this “cure” confirmed my worst suspicions.

For the lovelorn and pining, the web site offered a variety of solutions to recover and get back on the love boat of life. Naturally, yoga was on the menu to achieve one’s “core purpose” of “well-being, consciousness, and spirituality.” If that didn’t do the job there were reiki sessions, to soothe the wounded soul with the “energy life force that flows within and around all of us.” Still not over that jerk who dumped you? Well, try “astrology immersion,” to “learn your astrological signature and how it influences your life,” held in the Zodiac Lounge. If you still aren’t over that formerly-special someone, you can “dive deeper” into “celestial alignment” or the “mystic tarot” workshop. Oh, did I forget to mention there is also “shamanistic cleansing” and “past life regression therapy?” (My book LARSON’S BOOK OF WORLD RELIGIONS has teaching on every one of these demonic dangers. To order CLICK HERE. Don’t be fooled by Reiki energy work or so-called “Holy Yoga.”)

This potpourri of occult evil is cleverly packaged, without the warning that any one of these pastimes, intended to heal the broken heart, comes with guaranteed demonic possession as an add-on. In Luke 4:18 the Lord declared that He came to heal the brokenhearted. Don’t be fooled by the devil’s offer to soothe the pain of your wounded feelings at the eternal price of your soul in bondage to Satan.

An encouraging word: DON’T BE BEWITCHED

“O foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you,” the apostle Paul implored (Galatians 3:1). Today, it’s not only the Galatians who have been bewitched, but far too many Americans. Popular culture has been bewitched by abortionist who defend their “right to choose,” never mind that the unborn baby has no rights at all; by proponents of “equality,” who keep pushing the moral barriers to places unheard of even in Caligula’s Rome; by New Agers who resurrect ancient witchcraft remarketed under the guise of harmony with the universe to soothe the soul. Look around at your own life and see if there are ways you’ve been bewitched from following biblical standards of behavior.

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.

Mary. John. Patricia. James. Common names. In fact, they rank as the most common of all names for babies born in the U. S. Sometimes baby names are a bit out of the box, like Twinkle and Tergel (actual names of real babies). It’s easy to go through life telling people your name is Sam or Suzie, but think of the challenges you face if your parents christened you Frooti or Krithik (also real names)? Feeling a bit uncomfortable at having to constantly spell out your handle is one thing, but what if your parents named you after a demon, perhaps without realizing it?

I checked out of a hotel a few weeks ago, and as I was leaving for the airport I glanced again at the bill and discovered that the desk clerk serving me was actually named Leviathan! That’s the name of a powerful demon, a snake spirit, sometimes depicted as a sea monster (Job 41:1, Psalm 74:14, 104:26). In Satanism, Leviathan is supposedly one of the four Crown Princes of Hell. In spite of this demon’s foreboding and fearful appearance, God’s word promises in Isaiah 27:1, “In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent, and He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.”)

I have cast demons out of children whose parents named them Kali, Venus, Ashtoreth, and yes, even Jezebel. A name is a powerful thing. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews placed much significance upon a name. An appellation could be an expression of prophecy, geography, or anticipated character traits. Abraham is “the father of multitudes.” Joshua means “deliverer.” And, of course, most know that Peter means “rock” (Matthew 16:16). Matthew means “gift of God.”

If you’ve inadvertently named your child after a demon, pray to break curses attached to that name. (My book CURSE BREAKING is an excellent guide to do this. To order CLICK HERE.) Don’t put guilt on your child, but take steps to legally change the name to something neutral or biblical. You don’t have to be an expert at onomatology to pick a good name for your next child, but a little common sense and some research might prevent the potential need for an exorcism of your offspring.

An encouraging word: DON’T FEAR THE NIGHT

I often hear from people that they are attacked spiritually in the night, in all sorts of ways. Through terrible nightmares. With sleeplessness and fear. And with outright demonic assaults. Psalm 91:5 gives the promise, “You will not fear the terror of the night.” If you are tormented during the night, here are some tips. Pray earnestly before you lay down. In extreme cases, anoint your bed with oil. Keep a Bible and cross on your nightstand. (Some have told me they sleep with a Bible under their pillow as a spiritual deterrent to the devil.) Read all of Psalm 91 before going to sleep, and call upon angels to stand guard over you. Above all don’t fear the night.

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.