Blog

The morning after Halloween, Satan’s signature was still evident in the neighborhood where we live. The photo above, which I took just a block down the street, features a graveyard in the front yard, along with a glowering ghost and the Grim Reaper. Nearby were political voter signs, some for senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema, who in 2009 invited a coven of witches to an antiwar protest so they, in her words, could “dance and stay in touch with the earth.” During another protest, she joined a group of witches in a “pagan’s circle” to “sing and spiral.” What kind of politician summons the assistance of witches and then endorses ads trashing her opponent, a former fighter pilot who risked her life for her country? That’s not a political endorsement, but you make the obvious spiritual connection! 

Remember Sabrina the teenage witch of Archie comics fame? The sorcerer of Riverdale has now gone way over to the other side of evil. In a new Netflix series, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” the 16-year-old witch signs on with Satan. She undergoes a “dark baptism” (her face is anointed with blood) and sells her soul to the devil. Kiernan Shipka, the actress who plays the role says of her character, “Her fearlessness and her passion to fight for what’s right is inspiring to me. I’m happy to see that teenagers are being portrayed on television as individuals and smart.” Smart? What kind of Hollywood parallel universe is she living in, calling her blood-covenant surrender to Satan “smart?” Since when has it become intelligent to bow before the devil and invite demons to enter with an occult baptism? 

America has a Halloween hangover, a bender that seems to last all year long. Today it’s not enough to parody the devil with a red tail and pitchfork. The Ruler of Darkness has gone beyond such cartoonish imagery to brazenly inspire the kinds of foolishness I’ve just detailed—celebrating demonic death in suburbia, enlisting witchcraft to win elections, and promoting the idea that a teenager selling her soul to Satan is a feminine hero for adolescent women. America’s Halloween hangover has our society stumbling drunk on its way to hell, and the spiritual collapse of our nation. The only hope is a bold encounter with the Gospel that challenges the devil and his demons head-on with the blood of Jesus and the power of His name.

An encouraging word: GOD EXTENDS HIS MERCY TO YOU

“I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent man.” That self-description is brutally and painfully honest.” Imagine a politician saying that today with any sense of contriteness. These words of 1 Timothy 1:13 were spoken by the apostle Paul. Such self-confession was not to glorify his past sin, but to emphasize the greatness of God’s mercy. Few of us, no matter how bad our past, have been as evil as Paul. And he might have added the word “murderer,” for his killing of Christians. If you’re feeling a little down on yourself today, I doubt you have a past as bad as that of the man whose writings fill the New Testament letters. If Paul obtained God’s mercy, as he says later in that verse, so can you. 

 We may not burn heretics at the stake any more, but a hard look at what Christians in America believe, and where they stand politically, is shocking. As we approach the mid-term elections, here are some facts about evangelical, born-again voters. First, it was widely reported that in the 2016 election 81% of evangelicals voted for Trump. The Billy Graham Center Institute and LifeWay Research organization looked more closely at that number and discovered:  

• That vote wasn’t pro-Trump; it was anti-Hillary. 
• 20% of evangelicals didn’t even bother to vote.  
• Religious liberty only ranked 5th on a list of important issues; abortion was #9.

In a separate study by Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research, here are the findings regarding American attitudes toward religion: 69% said small sins shouldn’t merit eternal damnation, 58% said there’s no need to go to church, and 59% said the Holy Spirit isn’t a personal being! Furthermore, 60% of all Americans, and 32% of evangelicals said that religious belief is a “matter of personal opinion and not about objective truth.” 

And it gets worse. When evangelical Americans were asked about core beliefs of Christianity here were the results: 

• 52% said most people are basically good. (NO! READ JEREMIAH 17:9 AGAIN! THE HEART IS DECEITFUL AND DESPERATELY WICKED!) 
• 51% said God accepts the worship of all religions. (WORSHIPING SHIVA OR BUDDHA ISN’T THE SAME AS WORSHIPING JESUS!) 
• 78% said Jesus was created by God the Father. (NO! READ COLOSSIANS 1:16. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM; HE IS GOD ETERNAL!)

What will change this appalling situation of an impending American, evangelical moral and theological apocalypse? More preaching, more religious conferences, more Christian radio and TV, more evangelical books won’t do it. No culture in history has been more saturated with views about God and the Bible, especially from a conservative perspective. What’s needed is the demonstration of God’s power over Satan! Among the many important facts pointed out in our International School of Exorcism is this: In his book Christianizing the Roman Empire, Ramsey MacMullen, Professor Emeritus of History and Classics at Yale university, observes on page 112 that, “Emphasis on miraculous demonstration, head-on challenge of non-Christians to a test of power, head-on confrontation with supernatural beings inferior to God was characteristic of the church in infancy.” 

This is the answer to the spiritual doldrums of our age. Boldly confront evil, make no compromise with Scripture, and cast out demons in the name of Jesus to show a watching world that Christ is all-powerful in these times of spiritual timidity and impending theological apocalypse! 

An encouraging word: HATE THE SIN?

“Love the sinner and hate the sin.” A lot of people quote that as if it’s a Bible verse. It’s not. The sentiment seems to make sense until you dig deeper. “Love the sinner.” That works, and it’s biblical. After all, Luke 6:27 tells us to love our enemies. I’m not suggesting that we “like” sin, but by declaring to “hate” it, we run the risk of doing what we shouldn’t–hating the sinner by default. How about, looking inward at ourselves and dealing with the shortcomings in our own lives instead of hating what others do. It avoids the risk of hating them too.

This week’s blog is combined with our usual Update report on ministry activities, because what happened this past week is both newsworthy and spiritually powerful. Last week the Discovery Channel show “Expedition Unknown” featured me performing one of the most dramatic exorcisms I’ve ever done on national TV.

Last February during a seminar, a man named Reuben manifested a powerful spirit calling itself The King of Egypt. It claimed to go back 3,500 years to the time of the Pharaohs. When the producer of “Expedition Unknown” contacted me several weeks later, they wanted to arrange a second exorcism with Reuben. This follow-up deliverance turned out to be even more dramatic than the first.

During the filming of the exorcism, God led me to trace back the root of the evil in Reuben to an ancient curse of murder during the Roman Empire. Reuben violently manifested by snarling and growling, with his face contorting and threats to strangle me. The host, Gates, and another man had to hold Reuben to prevent serious physical harm from occurring. A member of the filming crew, Evan Stone, Director of Photography, said on camera, “We’ve done a lot of bizarre things in weird places, but [during this exorcism] I felt more scared than any other place we’ve been.”

In the end, Jesus was victorious, and host Josh Gates concluded, “We know this topic from the movies and from pop culture, but to actually witness this and speak with someone who actually works in this space put it in a different light for me.”

This show also put exorcism and deliverance in a different light for millions of viewers. Only eternity will tell how many people bowed their knees at the end of the show and gave their hearts to Jesus, because they had witnessed His power in action. Who knows how many backslidden Christians renewed their faith because they were reminded how real the devil is.

This amazing opportunity wasn’t the result of some clever marketing that we did, or some ingenious idea we pitched to the media. They came to us because they wanted to tell the story of what God is doing through our ministry. This was a God-thing, and to Him be the glory. The exorcism of Reuben on national TV is just one more example of how God is blessing this ministry with favor in places preachers never go. And I never forget that it’s the prayers and financial support of all our friends that make such opportunities of witness for the Lord possible. Be sure to watch the first exorcism of Reuben, which is our featured YouTube exorcism this week (to view click here.). If you missed the airing of this special, check the “Expedition Unknown” web site for future links to see reairs of this amazing display of God’s power in action.

To enroll in our School of Exorcism click here.

To enroll in our Advanced Academy click here.

For your personal encounter, click here.

For a SKYPE Encounter, click here.

To give your best gift, click here.

You can always call 303-980-1511.

While in Greenville, S. C. last week for a seminar, I dropped by a local mall to get something. Hanging over the entry to the shops was the sign above, MAD WORLD, HAUNTED ATTRACTION. We have come to expect this sort of thing in October each year, but a “New York Times” article the same day declared, “Terror Houses Make a Killing.” It described how far some people are willing to go be terrorized this time of year. For $150, one enterprise will take you blindfolded to a remote location, pretend to strangle you, strip off your clothes, rake claws across your body, simulate vomiting on your person, and leave you nearly naked, caked in mud and various fake body fluids. 

 Such simulations designed to maximize terror are known as “extreme haunts.” The founder of this trend got the idea when a friend was murdered, and this entrepreneur of fright re-enacted the killing for a group of friends. The effect was so scary that a new horror trend was born. In fact, one new trick is to subject people to a re-creation of their own murder. In this world of Halloween madness, the only rule is don’t kill anyone. Almost anything else goes. Says one master of extreme haunt horror, “For two hours we own you and we will push you to do things you consider dangerous and leave with a rush of adrenaline.”  

And demons. “God has not given us a spirit of fear,” the apostle Paul told Timothy (2 Tim 1:7). Too many preachers have euphemized this passage, but Paul means exactly what he says. Fear is a spirit, an evil spirit. In our International School of Exorcism (to enroll click here) our course on spiritual strongholds lists fear as a gateway demon which opens the door for many others nastier than himself. In fact, if you have a spirit of fear, that will almost automatically lead to possession by multiples of demons, all facilitated by fear.  

Fear is the antithesis of faith, “and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Thus, if faith is needed to please God, it is fear which pleases the devil. The frightful images at Halloween time may be considered all in fun, but the real, demonic, world behind the imagery of ghosts and witches is eternally terrifying. To those who seek a cheap, or not so cheap thrill at Halloween, a life of spiritual rebellion may lead to an eternal extreme haunt, forever in hell.

An encouraging word: WHEN THE WICKED RULE

“When the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 28:2). They groan because of the moral decay that brings instability and economic collapse. Of course, the question raised is how to define “wicked.” Sexual morality? Political correctness? Financial accountability? Legislative integrity? Each particular political persuasion and religious faction will have its own opinion. One thing is clear: Our culture’s rectitude is in steep decline and we must make changes before our lament becomes a death rattle. The one thing we must pray for is godly leaders who cause us to rejoice not groan.

Every other week our YouTube exorcism channel presents “Ask the Exorcist,” with episodes featuring fascination questions I receive from around the world. A recent question was so important that I elected to present it in this blog. A viewer from Dorchester, England wrote: Does a husband have the right to break curses and remove demonic rights for his non-believing wife? How about a wife that is a Christian, but doesn’t believe in demons?

Any discussion of the lengths and limits of spiritual authority must begin with the definitional difference between authority and power. Put simply, authority is the ability to act upon a directive derived from a right which has been imputed or conferred. It is the right to adjudicate on behalf of a delegated decree. Power is the ability to implement and enforce such a determination. Scripture says in Matthew 7:29 that Jesus taught as “one having authority.” Luke 9:1 says we have “authority over all devils.” But what may limit the exercise of authority is whether there is the power of enforcement. For example, if you’re speeding and a random individual seeks to pull you over and make a citizen’s arrest, you may question the authority of that person; but if a clearly marked police car driven by an officer with a gun and badge stops you, you’ll comply. The policeman has both authority and power.

It is clear from Matthew 18:18-19 that followers of Christ have binding and loosing authority, especially when there is spiritual agreement. But when is that absolute authority over demons and the devil limited? And when is our ability to speak on behalf of others limited?

• MARRIAGE: Ephesians 5:23 tells us that a husband has authority over a wife, he is the “head.” There are practical limits to this, but in the spiritual realm the husband may speak for the wife, particularly during deliverance. I’ve witnessed many instances when a demon more readily obeyed the command of a husband more than that of the exorcist. The husband has authority the evil spirit recognizes. This is true whether or not the wife is a Christian and regardless of whether she believes in the breaking of curses.
• CHILDREN: So long as a child is under the age of 18, the parent speaks for the child in all matters both civil and spiritual. Our book “Set Your Family Free”(to order CLICK HERE) gives practical prayers and instructions on the importance of a parent breaking family curses over all children before they become of age,
• ADOPTIVE PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS: A parent may spiritually speak on behalf of a minor or mentally handicapped child who doesn’t have proper mental comprehension. The key test of legitimate spiritual authority is whether there is legal civil authority (Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2). Guardianship may be granted even when a child is beyond the legal age of adulthood. All legally adoptive parents and legal guardians may bind and loose curses, as well as demonic activity, in the life of the child they have charge over.

This matter of speaking authoritatively on behalf of another is also explained in our book “Curse Breaking” (to order CLICK HERE) and in our International School of Exorcism (to enroll CLICK HERE). It’s crucial to understand these lengths and limits of spiritual warfare so that all those whom we love, and walk in relationship wit, can experience the full freedom of Christ.

An encouraging word: THE WORLD WILL NOT UNDERSTAND YOU

When you walk as a believer in the ways of God and the will of God, don’t expect the people around you to “get it.” First Corinthians 1:18 (AMP) says, “For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.” Outside of God, tithing makes no sense and loving your enemies is even more absurd! But with God, doing these things puts you in His will and hooks you up to the most powerful force in the universe. Just because the world doesn’t understand it, doesn’t mean you should change anything to make you Christianity more palatable to those around you.

If you aren’t aware of Braco (Braht-zoh), the Croatian spiritualist, you’re going to think I’m jesting. I’m not. What I’m about to tell you is so bizarre it could only happen in these self-indulgent, spiritually bankrupt End Times. Braco is known as “the Gazer” because he stands motionless in front of audiences, and for as long as 30 minutes says nothing. He just stares at people to transmit spiritual experiences and healing, including the alleged curing of cancer. A reported more than 200,000 annually look into his mesmerizing eyes. A promotional flyer declares, “Braco shares a very special gift through his silent gaze. Often people experience a deep sense of peace after meeting Braco’s gaze.” Those beholding Braco’s eyes must be 18 years or older and women past three months pregnant may not be present. 

Braco claims no religion. He was the disciple of a Serbian “prophet” and healer, Ivica Prokic, who gave the Gazer, who was once known as Josip Jelavic, the name Braco, “little brother.” Those who can’t get to the Gazer in person can look at him on YouTube or DVD, but they are warned that “Spirit” (his term) gives guidelines not to look at him longer than seven seconds. He also sells sun talismans with 13 golden rays to bring good luck. And what is the power behind all this? It’s simply called “the Voice.” (This is reminiscent of the “Voice” that dictated the demonic, metaphysical volumes of “A Course in Miracles.”) You can even bring a photo of a sick loved one (or hold up a cell phone with their visage) to be healed miraculously. Audience members claim to see angels or vibrant aura colors around him. People also see light orbs, feel pulses of electricity, and weep ecstatically. Some say they see his face change into another being, a claim I give some credence. 

What’s happening is a form of hypnotic suggestibility, like Hindu, yogic, tantric eye-gazing. The intention is to experience the “other” and the oneness of all. It’s a form of occult soul-bonding, and those who gaze at the Gazer are entering into a soul-connection with him and his demons. Intentional gazing is an old practice of mystical religions and only Braco’s marketing of the phenomenon is new. As to his claims of miraculous healings, be reminded that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all warn in the Last Days many shall come claiming to have the powers of Christ. But as Luke 21:8 says, “Don’t go after them!” And don’t gaze at them.

An encouraging word: KEEP YOUR FOUNDATION STRONG

God is limited. That statement might be shocking, but the fact is that God is limited by what we humans do with the world he has given us. “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” David asks in Psalm 11:3. We may expect God to bless us as a nation, as a church, as a family, or even as an individual. But if collectively or individually we allow moral foundations to be destroyed, we hinder the blessing God would otherwise give. Make sure that your foundation of character, ethics, honesty, and morality are not destroyed so God continues to work in your life.

Dennis Rader says that demons made him do it—stalk, strangle, mutilate, rape, sodomize 10 men, women and children, over a 17-year period 1974-1991. The admission came in a recently aired documentary (Oxygen Network) that uncovered a previously unknown confession he gave to police 13 years ago. Rader was an active leader in his church, but stated, “I personally think, and I know it’s not very Christian, but I actually think it’s a demon that’s within me. It entered me when I was young, and it controlled me.” He had already planned his 11^th crime, hanging a woman upside-down in her home, when he was caught. This is one more in a long list of killers who have been confessing Christians, like the “Washington Post” story we reported in December 2016 (to read blog “The Devil Made Him Do It” 12/22/16 click here) where a North Carolina man killed his wife and 14-year-old daughter and threw their bodies in a 40-foot deep well.

The Dennis Rader revelation raises two crucial questions; 1) Can a Christian be demonized, and 2) can a demon control a Christian to the extent that they act in unimaginable ways? We’ll set aside the first question. Our books and our School of Exorcism have adequately handled that issue from a theological and practical standpoint. It is demonstrably true from church history and contemporary reality that Christians can have demons. But what about the second question? How far can a demon go in the life of a believer? Let’s explore that by posing a series of rhetorical questions.

Can a Christian murder? Is abortion murder and do Christians ever kill their babies by abortion? Also, King David murdered, and he was the anointed of the Lord. Are Christians capable of lying and blasphemy? Peter was. Do Christians, even pastors, ever abuse drugs and alcohol, commit adultery, lie, cheat and steal? If you don’t know of such individuals, I have a long list I can loan you. The crucial question is this. When a Christian is under some measure of demonic influence, are there any limits on the moral crimes they may commit? Sadly, the answer is an emphatic NO!

Horribly egregious sin may not be common with Christians, but we can’t say that there is a limit to any kind of bad behavior committed by a Christian. If so, then a demonized Christian’s actions could theoretically know no bounds. This hard truth should make all of us consider our walk with the Lord, lest we become, as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:27, a “castaway” (KJV — “disqualified” NIV). Read on in the next chapter, where Paul speaks of those who drank of the rock, Christ, and because of their rebellion “their bodies were scattered over the desert.” First Corinthians 10:1 puts it this way: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (NIV). You may not be the next BTK serial murderer, but you may be capable of sins you never imagined, especially if you haven’t had prayers of deliverance to get rid of your demons!

An encouraging word: WATCH YOUR WORDS

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21 KJV). This verse has been over-applied and misapplied by prosperity preachers, but that doesn’t demean its significance to what we say. This is especially true in the family. What spouses say to each other and parents say to their children is significant. Many times I’ve counseled an adult in mid-life who was wounded by the caustic comments of a parent (“You’ll never amount to anything!”). Wounding words set the tone for later bad decisions that were driven by the fulfillment of the negative prediction. Watch your words and speak life and hope to those you love.

The latest statistics regarding sexually transmitted diseases are horrifying. New cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis increased 10% last year. The Centers for Disease Control state that, since 2013, there has been a “steep, sustained increase” that puts the incidence of STDs at record levels. As expected, the rise is blamed on the lack of federal tax dollars funding sex education and treatment. In fact, the government recommends that all women under 25 be tested annually, at taxpayer’s expense, of course. The risk of these diseases is more than a curtailed sex life. Infertility, pregnancy complications, and even HIV may result. To be blunt, we wouldn’t have this problem if unmarried people kept their clothes on and their morals in place.   

But what’s missing from these concerns is the additional potential of spiritually transmitted diseases. Every sexual conjugation outside of marriage is a one-flesh bonding, even if it’s casual sex with a paid paramour. The Apostle Paul warned of this in 1 Corinthians 6:16: “He who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘the two are united into one.’” In such situations, whatever one partner has spiritually can be passed on to the other. My books “Dealing with Demons,” “Jezebel,” and “Set Your Family Free” explain how this happens. I give actual accounts of individuals who’ve gotten demons from lovers, even with just a one-night stand. Curses can also be acquired from hooking-up for sex. It only takes being intimate with one person, one time, to acquire a lifetime of demonic torment.

Our new Advanced Academy of Deliverance (available to graduates of the International School of Exorcism) has two lengthy modules explaining about soul bonds. The conclusion of these teachings is that any sex outside of marriage risks acquiring all kinds of demons from one’s partner. Module 7 of the Academy describes how a wife absorbed the soul-part of a witch who seduced her husband. Another case involved a man who slept with a girl who practiced black magic from the “Book of the Dead” and he got demons of Egyptian occultism. A Christian girl got sexually involved with a guy whose mother was a witch, and the witchcraft demons entered the unsuspecting girl. I could tell hundreds more stories, but the point is clear. Beware all spiritually transmitted demons by avoiding fornication and promiscuity. Otherwise, getting a sexually transmitted disease may be the least of your problems.  

An encouraging word: FALSE GODS

“The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods” (Psalm 16:4). Whatever you allow to take the place of the Lord in your life is another god. Such “gods” in our culture aren’t necessarily images of wood or stone, they are often the things that replace religion, such as pleasure, money, lust, or inordinate entertainment. The reason sorrows increase is that the real power behind any false god is a demon (1 Cor. 10:20) and such evil forces come to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). Beware running after false gods lest you be pursued by demons in disguise.

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’m irritated by the word games people play to describe what the devil does. All this artful language to avoid admitting that Christians can have demons is disingenuous and untruthful.  Some are so scared to say the word “possession” when referring to believers that they obfuscate the obvious by saying, “Well, a Christian can’t be possessed, but they can be oppressed . . . harassed . . . obsessed . . . influenced . . . tormented. Pick any word but “possessed.” True, the more accurate translation of the King James Version word “possessed” is closer to the term “demonized” (daimonizomai—to be possessed by a demon). But it’s not linguistic accuracy that concerns critics of deliverance. It’s the fear of admitting that a demon may actually be inside a born-again believer, and take over their minds, vocal cords, and bodies, to speak, express will, and even commit violent acts.  

I’ve said it before, I say it again. I’ve done 40,000 plus documented exorcisms over four decades. Almost all such deliverances were done on confessing Christians. This group includes pastors, priests, nuns, worship leaders, seminary professors, and some in the Catholic, evangelical, and charismatic communities who are publicly well-known. Along with other prayer partners who were present, I’ve witnessed these individuals cursing, spouting vile blasphemies, and even bodily assaulting me. One wanted to kill me. Don’t tell me that Christians can’t have demons. I have the cracked ribs, broken facial cartilage, and bloody wounds to prove it. I’ve been knocked down, strangled, slugged, and threatened with bodily harm—all actions from people that friends and family members testify were committed Christians.   

I’m especially upset by what I heard a pastor say in a recent sermon. In an otherwise brilliant message, this well-known preacher, whose church I attended in-person, incognito, warned the congregation about the power of demons and the devil — for unbelievers. As to the question of a Christian being demon possessed, he opined that a believer couldn’t be controlled by a demon, and thus not possessed. Here was his way out of the obvious, and I quote him directly: “A believer can’t lose their salvation and thus they can’t have a demon, but they can fake their salvation and have a demon.”  

Word games. So, by this logic, if someone has demonstrated a consistent Christian witness, but for some reason displays demonic behavior to the point of an actual manifestation, we can know for certain is that they were never really saved. Word games. The games need to stop. The truth must be faced. How Christians are demonized is thoroughly described in our International School of Exorcism (to enroll CLICK HERE.) The explanation of Christians being demonized is irrefutable, to anyone not blinded by theological prejudice. Too many Christians suffer the enslavement of evil spirits. They deserve to be free. They can be free. And by the grace of God, this ministry will spread the message that they will be free.

An encouraging word: FALSE PROPHETS LOOK REAL

John 13:26 is the account of the Last Supper and Christ identifying Judas as his betrayer. We’ve all heard this story many times but miss the point. Judas fooled all the other disciples because he did what they did. Judas healed people in the name of Jesus. He even cast out demons. Had he not performed miracles in Christ’s authority, his deception would have been obvious. This is the danger of false prophets. As with Judas, they look like the real thing. I constantly warn people to be careful about who they go to for deliverance. Know the person and know their doctrine, or you might get more demons while trying to rid yourself of the ones you already have.