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How the Devil Hides in Religion

How the Devil Hides in Religion

charismamag.com

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Has the American church given the devil a place to hide?

Nobody I know has ever taken a photograph of the devil, and we couldn't find a recent snapshot to use on the cover of Charisma this month. The only images we located were paintings, drawings and a few sculptures—all based on artists' notions of what the Evil One must look like.

I certainly was not inclined to pursue an interview or a photo-shoot, since I really don't care to see Satan in person. But for the sake of journalistic accuracy I need to inform our readers that the red-faced monster we featured on our cover is probably not a realistic depiction.

Most of us tend to think of the devil as a grotesque creature: a half-man, half-reptile with forked tongue, goatee, black fingernails and creepy, Darth Vaderlike voice (and bad breath of the sulfuric variety). He's like all the things we feared most when we were kids: Dracula, Freddy Krueger or any twisted character played by Vincent Price. Kids today might give the "Most Like Satan" award to the dark wizard Saruman from The Lord of the Rings films.

But the issue for us is not whether the devil has pointed ears or carries a pitchfork. Regardless of his real appearance, he is a master of disguise. That's what makes him so dangerous.

We Christians are always on the lookout for the devil's work. But it seems we spend way too much energy looking in the wrong places for his fingerprints.

A few years ago, for example, some Christians worked overtime to inform parents about the evils of Pokémon, claiming that Satan was plotting to take over the minds of children by using a Japanese cartoon. That was only after another group of Christians circulated a warning that a major U.S. household-products company was controlled by devil worshipers. (It wasn't.)

Today, many believers act as if the Harry Potter books are hell's primary tools to infiltrate our families with witchcraft.

I don't buy that. Satan is much more subtle.

The apostle Paul, who wrestled with plenty of demonic powers in his day, told us that we must know our enemy in order to outwit him. One thing we must understand is that the devil's primary target is the church­—so he snoops around there a lot.

He comes "as an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14, NASB) and is an imposter who claims to speak for God. He can mimic piety. He's OK with choir robes, clerical collars and the whole Sunday morning routine. He knows how to dress to fit in.

He detests genuine praise music that exalts God, but he's fine when he can turn worship into dead formality or manipulate it in a fleshly way to glorify the performer. He hates the Bible (because he must bow to its authority), but he has impressive knowledge of the Scriptures and can twist them to create false doctrines.

He despises preachers, but if he can tempt them to embrace greed or arrogance (or lure them into denominational politics), he can use them like puppets on a string. He hates it when Christians love each other, so he uses every trick in his bag to trigger jealously, strife, divorce and painful church splits.

The apostle Paul didn't seem too concerned about the devil's influence in pagan culture. He was much more alarmed that Satan had infiltrated the church without anyone's knowing it.

"Who has bewitched you?" he asked the Galatians (Gal. 3:1). He told the Corinthians: "I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3).

Has the American church given the devil a place to hide? Satan thrives on religious hypocrisy. He also loves backbiting, pride, greed, selfish ambition and hidden perversion. As long as we tolerate such things, we create an atmosphere of spiritual compromise that attracts the enemy and gives him a safe haven.

Religious people don't even realize they are part of this evil plot. But radical Christians who are full of the Holy Ghost must go on the offensive, chase Satan down, invade his territory and liberate his captives. When our masked enemy is faced with a church that walks in genuine love, Christlike humility, bold authority and biblical faith, he must tuck his scaly tail between his legs and run.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project (themordecaiproject.org). You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His latest book is Fearless Daughters of the Bible.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/supernatural/1721-the-devil-is-religious

6 Simple Ways to Win Souls

Ever noticed that you can say the right thing the wrong way? When this happens your witnessing opportunity can go haywire--your incorrect attitude can create a huge roadblock. Here are some pointers to help you engage in fruitful evangelism.

1. Do your homework. Anticipate the different types of questions your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors will have when witnessing opportunities arise. Not everyone's questions will be the same.

Try to think about every person in your sphere of influence and what sorts of issues they are struggling with. What life experiences have shaped their view of life? What kinds of struggles do they experience in their jobs? 

Truth expressed in a relevant manner is the key to meeting an individual's needs. 

2. Learn to listen. We must genuinely attempt to understand what the person is saying and what his perspective is. As you listen, ask yourself, "Is this the real issue, or is this merely a symptom of something deeper?" Remember to keep an open ear to the Lord. Let Him speak to you about the person you are talking to.

3. Use questions wisely. Ask questions of the person in an attempt to answer his questions. Just make sure you ask the right questions in the right way. This will often allow an individual to see the answers to his own questions. 

Jesus used this form of evangelism when the Pharisees questioned Him about the origin of His authority (see Matt. 21:23-27). He responded by asking them where John the Baptist's authority came from--heaven or Earth? When the Pharisees saw their predicament, they answered that they did not know. 

The point of using questions in evangelism is for the other party to see the inadequacy of their worldview and a need for change, not just in their philosophy but also in their experience. 

4. Embrace humility. Don't come across as a know-it-all. Humbly admit that there are some questions you just don't know the answers to. But always offer to try to find the answers. 

5. Don't pressure people. Jesus called us to make disciples, not decisions. Don't pressure a person who has not fully considered the cost of discipleship. This results in a premature step. 

6. Trust God at all times. Many disastrous results could be avoided by simply following this rule of thumb. Remember that Jesus did not pressure the rich young ruler to follow Him (see Luke 18:18-23). Jesus presented the truth, which included what I call "the sacrificial demands" of the gospel in a conviction-filled yet pressure-free environment. 

Trust in God's power, not yours. We often forget that rational discussion alone will never convert a human heart or mind.Remember, there are spiritual barriers as well that attempt to inhibit the gospel's work, resulting in spiritual, not intellectual, blindness (see 2 Cor. 4:4).

Logic and rationale can lead a person to the cross but never through the cross. Only God can do that.

But He does it graciously, and He chooses human vessels to use in this awesome process called evangelism. That's why prayer and evangelism must go hand in hand.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/evangelism-missions/3321-six-ways-to-win-souls

You Always Win, So Why Are You Losing?

No matter what the enemy throws at you, you can overcome? Here's why.

I'm telling you prophetically that the Lord is calling forth a triumphant reserve. He will have a bride without spot or wrinkle. No matter what failures we have previously experienced, we will be a strong people who do exploits, using the resources the Lord provides for us.

We will leave our past defeats and walk in victory. We will be overcomers.

The key concept of overcoming is simply this: Find a way to win, do not be defeated and advance into the fullness of your God-given destiny. There are a people being raised up who will triumph. Many of these experienced great heartache in their past seasons of life.

This is the time to break "hope deferred"! Proverbs 13:12 states, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (NKJV). Don't let loss overcome you. Loss can produce shaking, but it can also result in joy, change and resurrection power.

We have been given the power to bind the accuser. So bind him!

Usually in the midst of the dark times in our lives we find ourselves filled with trauma and loss. Trauma is like the snapshot from a camera. A picture of the trauma is stored deep in our brains, but the Holy Spirit wants to move in such a way that we are sovereignly delivered. He wants to give us a new perspective on life and the world around us.

The enemy takes advantage of us during difficult times of loss to manipulate our emotions to create: a failure mentality; a confused perception of our lives and destiny; dullness, deadness, lost hope or apathy in our "spirit man"; blocked emotions; a bitter root that defiles the whole body.

When we do not deal with trauma effectively, we allow roots to grow that entangle our feet and keep us from moving forward on our new path of success. Trauma imprinted on our memory systems is also absorbed deep into the tissues of our brains (our processors) and affects our thoughts and our hearts. Trauma becomes the snapshot that determines what we see and how we define the world around us.

When not processed correctly, trauma will shape your world from the point of view of the incident that caused it. Trauma can produce lock-ins of fear, failure, emotional distress and anxiety, and it can even cause your organs (spleen, kidneys, pancreas) to overwork.

We may be going through a lot, but there is a way for us to overcome, to reverse the power of our dark hour, and to advance into the very best that still lies ahead.

An overcomer moves beyond defeats, traumas, woundings, mistakes and failures to gain new strength and venture into the next season with hope. In the midst of darkness, there is light. In the midst of light, there is sound. In the midst of sound, we find God's voice.

The power of His voice chops down the forest of confusion around us. The power of His voice creates a path in our wilderness. The power of His voice breaks the waters open and raises our heads above the waves of doubt, grief and despair towering around us. The power of His voice overcomes any strategy the enemy has developed to hold us captive in his chains of defeat.

My favorite saying in life is, "But God!" Your current circumstances can develop a mentality of victory within you. No matter what situation you find intruding in your life, you can shout: "But God! He is the light in my darkness!" Dark hours lie ahead, but an overcomer's anointing will help you break through and give you victory.

Chuck D. Pierce is the founder and president of Glory of Zion International Ministries based in Denton, Texas, and the president of Global Spheres Inc. He is also the author of numerous books, including Redeeming the Time (Charisma House), from which this article is adapted.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-warfare/8998-you-can-be-an-overcomer

The Spiritual Avalanche That Could Kill Millions

This is coming to you from a man who has just passed through the valley of the shadow of death. Since my close call with eternity just a short while ago ... everything has become clearer. I can hear His whisper. Unabated obedience has become my mandate. That is why I'm writing this word from the Lord.

A few days ago, after enjoying quality time with Jesus, I was surprised by an alarming vision. I saw a massive, majestic mountain covered in glistening snow. It reminded me of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. Its peaks were sparkling white and I was amazed by God's attention to detail. It was so realistic I wanted to go skiing! But I sensed that there was more that the Holy Spirit was about to reveal. As I closed my eyes, I was in a winter wonderland bustling with thousands of vacationers. The ski lodge, condos, hotels and cabins were at full capacity at this popular resort.

Day quickly turned to night as the skiers, snowboarders and sports enthusiasts were settling in. Anticipation grew as the snow began to fall. Everyone headed to bed believing tomorrow would be a day of sheer enjoyment on freshly covered slopes. For an avid skier, the exhilaration of being the first one to race down a new blanket of snow is a dream come true.

Throughout the night, winter storms dropped several feet of new snow on the slopes. The night ski patrol was put on full alert. Their mission was clear. With the potential of killer avalanches they took to their posts.

I began to weep as the vision continued to unfold along with its spiritual application.

The ski patrol operated like a well-trained platoon. Some boarded helicopters manned with small bombs, others jumped on snowmobiles loaded with hand held explosive devices. What seemed to be a strategic group of sharpshooters were stationed at the base maneuvering anti-tank weapons aimed at the snow covered peaks. They fired their weapons at strategic points in the "avalanche zone" to force avalanches before the snow accumulated to a life-threatening depth. Left unchecked, the accumulation of heavy, dense snow packed on top of lighter snow could easily slide down with incredible speed and force, resulting in enormous damage and loss of life.

The Lord began to speak. I trembled. The fresh, new snow represented the false teaching that is steadily falling on the ears of the Body of Christ. It has been, and is, a heavy snowfall. The skiers represented believers and non believers, trusting the resort for a safe and memorable experience. As Christians, we have been warned to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). However, the present, awe-inspiring teachings have lulled many into a deeper sleep.

The layers upon layers of snow have been steadily covering the solid traditional truth of Christ. The truth is that foolish teaching in these days will become so fashionable even the most dedicated believer could become deceived (see Matt. 24:24). It's happening before our eyes. One spiritual leaders said the other day: "You guys are old-fashioned 'holiness,' we are modern day 'grace.' You live in bondage while we can do anything we want.

Pastors and teachers worldwide have succumbed to heretical teachings including universal reconciliation, deification of man, challenging the validity of the Word of God including His judgements, and even lifting any boundaries, claiming His amazing grace is actually 'amazing freedom'. You are free to live according to your own desires. Sound familiar? "They had no king and did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 17:6). These popular self-proclaimed ministers of the gospel are covering the 'slopes' and will be held accountable for the spiritual death of millions.

Just as the ski patrol did in this vision, those who are aware of what's happening must take swift and accurate action. Their weapons of warfare must be aimed at the peaks and the 'avalanche terrain' to dispel the lies. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers must be willing to drop spiritual bombs, fire anti-heresy missiles, and even drive into the danger zones armed with explosive truth to confront this potential avalanche. The Generals of this generation must leave the war-room and put their years of experience on the front lines.

Friend, I humbly encourage you to heed this vision and take it before the Lord. I've written it just as it was given. My responsibility is to share with the body of Christ His words to me. The ears that hear and the hands that obey are out of my control. This is not just Steve Hill telling a story. Most of what the Lord shares with me is personal and remains in my heart. But I sincerely believe that this is a warning for this hour.

Satan is 'snowing the saints' but it can be stopped. In the vision I heard explosions. I saw dedicated Christian soldiers scrambling to do anything it took to bring down this avalanche before devastation occurred. One of the most powerful weapons we possess to combat this onslaught is the tongue. Let God set yours ablaze by preaching ALL the words in RED. If we take action now the result will be a tearing down of false teaching and a remaining layer of solid, God given, biblical instruction that will save the lost, heal the sick and strengthen Christians to do the true work of the ministry.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/prophetic-insight/16028-the-spiritual-avalanche-that-could-eminently-kill-millions

Reinhard Bonnke: 5 Ways to Lead a Victorious Life

Some of God's people have wishes. Others, like Joshua, have purposes.

A whole generation of Israel wished—and died wishing. For them, 40 years of wandering turned the Promised Land into Fantasy Land. For those same 40 years, Joshua nurtured a victory just waiting to happen. When God commissioned him, Joshua responded and turned others' wishes into land, cities, homes and possessions—the inheritance of generations to come.

Why did Joshua succeed where others did not? It's vitally important to first say that the reasons all lay in Joshua's own heart, not in his circumstances. That's the difference between what happens for some people and what doesn't happen for others. Success is in ourselves and God's Word, not in our circumstances.

Let's look at the five victory factors behind Joshua's success, all set out in Joshua 1.

1. Realize your greatness is in God. Twice the Bible makes this wonderful, all-inclusive statement: "With God all things are possible" (see Matt. 19:26, Mark 10:27). Note the preposition with. To you all things are possible, with God. Joshua did not ride into Canaan on the back of an Arabian stallion but marched in upon the basis of the promises of God. God told him: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you" (Josh. 1:3).

2. All of God's promises to others are ours by faith. God's Word is for you as much as if He personally appeared and spoke it to you. Your only requirement is to "put on" His promises by faith. What had God promised to Joshua? "From the wilderness ... to the going down of the sun, shall be your territory" (Josh. 1:4). For Joshua and Israel, the only land remaining to be possessed was what Joshua had made up his mind to have. It was theirs by faith. And it happened when he decided. The door of history swung open at his touch.

3. Get a vision of what you should do for God, then work to bring it about. One of the most deeply rooted beliefs (actually, unbeliefs) some have is that God's presence is greater with some people than with others. But from the beginning God said, "I will not leave you nor forsake you" (Josh. 1:5). He promised this to Joshua and repeated the same statement 1,300 years later by the writer of Hebrews (see Heb. 13:5). God is with us not because we are good or because we have great faith; He is with us because He has committed Himself irrevocably to us. If God was with us only when we had success, success would never come.

4. Know that God is with you as much as He was with anybody. Don't hang around waiting for the right circumstances. God is your circumstance. He is with you. Others before you simply took advantage of this great circumstance, believed it and acted on it. You can go forth in the name of the Lord with the same courage that God drummed into Joshua: "Be strong and of good courage" (1:6); "Only be strong and very courageous" (v. 7); "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed" (v. 9). 

5. Believe God's Word and act on it. God didn't give Joshua much forewarning when He said within three days Joshua would cross the Jordan River to possess the land (see Josh. 1:11). Israel had been on the east side of the Jordan for an entire generation. They were used to thinking of the other side of the Jordan as Fantasy Land. They had become "grasshoppers" in their own sight (see Num. 13:33). If you think you are a grasshopper, you are; because as a person "thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). But in God you are not a grasshopper—ever. 

Realize what was happening when God called Joshua. "The Lord [said] to Joshua: 'Moses ... is dead. Now therefore, arise, go'" (Josh. 1:1-2). What a moment for purpose to unfold! It began with a funeral. It was a disastrous hour. However, God revels in bringing life out of death. 

Cast off feelings of inferiority. Remember: A person's greatness lies only in God. That's why Joshua succeeded—because the same God who was with Moses was with him. He's the same God who is with you.

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Reinhard Bonnke, an evangelist and author, is founder of Orlando, Fla.-based Christ for all Nations, which since the start of the new millennium has recorded 55 million decisions for Christ. His books include Evangelism By Fire, from which this article is adapted.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/14480-how-to-live-a-successful-christian-life