14 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
14 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Fallen Angels, the Nephilim and Women
14 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in demons and devils, the Nephilim
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Excerpts from “the New Idolatry” by Pam Sheppard.
- See Chapter 6: DEMONIC COPULATION
In the year 2000, an African American charismatic believer sought my help to be delivered from out of control sex with an invisible being. I only met with her for two sessions, as she left New York State permanently. A striking element in this case is that a spirit entity engaged in sex with the client on a continual basis. In fact, this “spirit” was so bold, that it seized her for sex at the same time that her husband was attempting to do so. As she shared, suddenly her legs forcefully spread open in the chair, right before my eyes , I watched her thighs violently shake and tremble. I have never seen anything like it before, or since.Yet, over the years, more and more cases of spiritual rape have been reported to me. The next set of cases was equally strange. In point of fact, I have counseled far too many churchgoing women who have acknowledged that spirit entities have manifested physically and raped them. These cases have not only baffled me, but they have led to a plethora of questions and concerns about “what does all of this mean.?
For example, Sarah, a Caucasian Presbyterian minister had no occult background. Unlike Eloise, witchcraft was not a factor. Yet she too is raped while her husband sleeps beside her. While Sarah was being attacked, her husband lay immobile, as in an altered state of consciousness far deeper than normal sleep.Since the very first incident, Sarah’s husband has been impotent, unable to achieve an erection. In fear that her husband will find out, Sarah stated that her husband has begun to smell the offensive odor. A pastor of a church, Sarah is about “to lose it.” Her main concern is that the spirit being is attempting to impregnate her, as she is raped at least four times a week.
In less graphic cases than either Eloise or Sarah, faithful, churchgoing Christian women are reporting that they have sexual contact while asleep or in a dream. Most often, the spirit entities manifest as men known to these women. With one exception, the women do not enjoy the sex. For example, Cher is a Haitian born, 35 year old woman who had been dedicated to voodoo gods at birth. An ordained 7th Day Adventist minister of Song, Cher’s manifestations began when she spoke in tongues. Unlike most victims, Cher enjoys the sex. However, she is out of control. While in church ministering, the tongues changes to cursing and foul language. When she is released from the attack, she has no remembrance of what had transpired.
Cases like these have caused me to devote an entire chapter in my next book, “the New Idolatry,” to this strange happening. The chapter is called “demonic copulation.” In reviewing the literature on alien encounters, I learned something rather interesting. Strange encounters humans have experienced with UFO’s have included very few Christians over the last 5 decades. Spirit rape seems to be the enemy’s alternative targeted towards Christian women.When I consider the underlying intent–how spirit rape fits into Satan’s endtime agenda,— I believe it has less to do with sex from a lustful perspective and more to do with sex as an altered state of consciousness.
Through Paul’s warning to the Corinthians about women covering their heads “because of the angels,” I believe that Paul was referring to the fact that fallen angels during the days of Noah, were so attracted to women that they cohabited with them, and produced offspring which the book of Enoch reports are roaming the earth as humans. – today are not wearing veils. With the way sensual way that they worship, they are actually inviting fallen angels to come to them, especially those who call Jesus “their only lover.” They think they are reaching out to the Son of God when in reality, they are calling for the fake Jesus.
If you are having problems in this area, help is available at 518-477-5759
RELATED BOOKS http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/pam_s911
Related articles
- Christian Mysticism and the Days of Noah (settingcaptivesfree.wordpress.com)
Now You Got ‘Your Boaz..’ Now What?, Pt. 2
14 Wednesday Mar 2012
In Part 1 ‘When the Enemy Sends A Husband,’ I talked about the reality that the enemy sends mates. The whole agenda of these hell-sent mates are to annihilate and destroy!
The sad part is that most people who are sent mates from the enemy do not realize they are sent from the enemy until after they have said ‘I Do.’ The truth and reality of who that person is is blinded by what society perceives as ‘love.’ Others around the both of them see the issues, but most do not speak out on the issues BEFORE the wedding because they want to be happy for the engaged couple. They don’t want to appear to be ‘haters.’
But I believe that that part of the ceremony where the preacher says ‘if there is anyone who does not believe that these two people should not marry, speak now or forever hold your peace’ is there for a REASON. If more people would speak up at this point, they could possibly spare the two much drama in the future!
Anyway, in the following clip, Whitney pretty much admits that her and Bobby-as much as they ‘loved’ one another-were unequally yoked.
Whitney tells us in this video that Bobby was actually jealous of her success in her musical career. That inequity caused MUCH friction, tension and strife in an already strained marriage. I remember seeing Whitney Houston always on TV, declaring to the whole world that Bobby Brown was ‘the King of R & B!’ I would laugh out loud, as I’m sure many people did. We ALL knew that was NOT true! Bobby’s musical career was riddled with allegations of MANY children out of wedlock, drug addiction, many arrests and was tainted by his ‘bad-boy’ image.
Every time I saw her do that, I thought to myself, ‘What is WRONG with her? Is she that much in love that she believes that?’ She was trying to build up her man so he wouldn’t feel the brunt of his NON-success in his career, as he took a backseat in an attempt to be ‘supportive’ to his bigger-than-life wife.
The bottom line was that they were UNEQUALLY YOKED. Whitney Houston had her pick of ANY man in Hollywood before marrying Brown. Actors, comedians and millionaires…all who did not have a criminal record and a string of baby mamas littered all across the country.
Whitney grew up in church, was taught to stand by her man, at all costs. She knew right from wrong. But her heart won out over what she knew was right. Now she was stuck in a marriage that was not only unequally yoked, but would later prove to be dangerous.
The enemy here wanted to stunt the spiritual growth of Whitney. He had succeeded in that by giving her fame and fortune. By allowing millions to make an icon out of her, an idol.
Then he sealed the deal with sending a mate from hell.
The same thing happened to Juanita Bynum. She married a virtual unknown named Thomas Weeks. She tried to ‘stand by her man.’ She prayed and fasted to bring her man to his next level. She spent all HER money promoting Weeks and his ministry, financing any venture he so desired. She tried to play the good wife, because she, too, was raised to do so.
Ladies, we need to understand that even though many of us were ‘raised’ that way, that way was wrong. It was wrought out of religion, and religion for years has sought to oppress and control the Spirit. It is WRONG to tell women to stay in abusive marriages-whether they be physically, mentally, spiritually or financially abusive. It is WRONG to preach at women, commanding them to submit to men who are NOT their equal in ANY way. Whitney married ‘down.’ Bynum married ‘down.’ And look where it got them!
It is in our natures as women to nurture and try to grow things. And in error we see someone and think ‘Oh, he has promise. But he needs this or that…’ If you have to say ‘he needs this or that,’ he is NOT the one. You marrying him will be unequally yoked. PERIOD.
I don’t push the marriage thing these days; neither am I against marriage.
I AM for marriage…God’s way. In God’s timing. In God’s will.
Now that you got your Boaz, NOW WHAT?
How Do You Ride The Judgment Wave???
13 Tuesday Mar 2012
This picture is a giant wave from Hurricane Katrina crashing down on the Gulf Coast seven years ago.
New Orleans is my hometown and we lost everything in Katrina. I can remember barely escaping the ravages of Katrina. I evacuated with a group of church members; a caravan of three vehicles filled with approximately 20 people. We waited so late to leave N.O. that we had to drive east instead of west…right into the storm. Riding along the Gulf Coast and near Mobile, AL, I can recall us driving across a bridge that was flooding, the waves and water was crashing on the bridge. I could barely see where I was going, but we knew we had to keep driving, or we would drown. Or tornadoes spawned due to Katrina would hit us.
I recall I was not going to leave New Orleans. I sent my three kids along with relatives to Texas and I was going to ride the storm out, right in the house with a cousin who initially had decided to stay back as well on what is known as the Westbank of New Orleans. The pastor of the church I was attending called us and told us that we should all leave…that was Sunday afternoon. My cousin did not want to leave and I remember having to almost force her to come along. She didn’t want to leave a brand new house, her brand new business. She said she wanted to ‘stay behind and believe God will spare her house and business…’
Seeing that she had like four babies, I wasn’t trying to hear it. ”Girl! You better COME ON here!” I scolded her.
She decided to come along.
I remember as we left out of New Orleans, I saw many people who chose to stay behind. I visited another church and the pastor was sitting in the church as it got dark….I asked him if he was going. He said ‘he didn’t know…’
I guess he felt obligated as the pastor to stay. I was glad to later find out that he chose to leave N.O., too.
Once our caravan made it to shelter-a hotel with the lights kept going out about 50 miles outside of Mobile-we all watched the news in horror and looked outside the windows where the threat of tornadoes was still very real all along the LA, MS, AL and FL coasts. The next morning we made it to another shelter, we saw the news again and couldn’t believe what we were seeing.
ALL of New Orleans was flooded!
All of N.O. East-where I grew up…a whole mall…GONE! Ninth Ward-where I stayed for a bit with another church member at one time….GONE! Spain St….our first home after I was married….House was GONE!
We watched in horror at the littered bodies all up and down I-10, floating in the waters.
We watched as Canal St begin to look like something out of the riots of the 60s and 70s…folks looting stuff out of Walgreens to survive.
I would later hear of stories of people who actually saw the flood waters rush in literally down their streets when the levees broke.
They described it as a ‘wall of water’-a wave-just rushing down after them.
I remember Garland Robinette from WWL-TV on the radio asking survivors to call in so he could send help to them. One lady just had a newborn baby like a week before. When they heard the BOOM of the levees breaking and the waters rushing in, flooding their home, her and her family climbed into the attic. An elderly relative had already died. The water was coming into the attic and the girl sounded so tired. She was begging them to help them, so her baby could survive…
I cried and prayed that her and her baby with the relatives, made it out ok.
I think of all those people who stayed behind. Who didn’t heed the warning(s). Boats were sent out to rescue folks even AFTER the levees broke, and yet they chose to stay behind.
Now, I know. A lot of folks COULDN’T leave due to no finances, no resources. They didn’t have money or a car or knew anyone who they could ride with.
But help -however inadequate-was sent to them and they got out. They suffered trauma and unmentionable horrors, but they got out.
All because they wouldn’t heed the warnings to GO!
This makes me think of the church and how there are millions of people who have heard the warning(s) to GO. To COME OUT from among her…and yet for whatever reason, they make excuses and stay.
GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE!
The Church may be all you know. You may feel like if you leave the church, all your support systems will go. You won’t have anywhere to turn. You don’t even know HOW to go.
You may be like my cousin: you have seen the inadequacy of the church-and know that she is under judgment even-but yet you have decided you are going to stay and ‘pray away the storm.’ You think your intercession is going to stop the judgment of God, when God says in His Word that judgment BEGINS at the house of the Lord. NOT the world. THE CHURCH! God’s word is the same…forever! If He said judgment is going to hit the house FIRST, then IT IS…
And IT HAS!
Or you may be like those 1000s of people who wouldn’t leave their houses, even when help was sent. The National Guards, boats, FEMA, help was sent, yet they rejected help and thought it best to stay. And some of those same people perished with their stuff, too!
Sometimes, tough-love or radical intervention is needed to save someone who doesn’t know they need saving. This was the case with my cousin. I wish sometimes I could go into some churches and just ‘snatch’ folks outta there…lol! I really do! Its not to talk bad about them. Its just that they are so brainwashed, bamboozled and deluded that they really cannot see how much danger they are in. This was the case with my cousin. She got mad with me..(truth be told, she still is angry with me, just not for that!)…but as our relationship is…I told her the hard cold truth…whether she liked it or not, whether it agreed with her theology or not (she is a whole elder in the full gospel church, btw).
But I know she is glad she listened to me!
Anyway, you say ‘I’m gonna stay at my church and ride the wave out! I’m a faithful servant and I’m gonna pray that devil away…’ And you just don’t realize it isn’t the devil!
It IS the Judgment of GOD!
When a place is under judgment BY GOD, there is NO prayer warrior that can pray judgment away…especially if that house is unrepentant.
Again, I know. You’re scared. You don’t know how to go. You have been in your church for 20 years. You feel like people are depending upon you.
But think about it: what alternative do you have? Stay?
How Do You Ride the Judgment Wave?
At your OWN RISK! God can save you, rescue you. Send Help. But because you won’t take heed to the warning(s) He has sent TIME and TIME again, you may suffer loss, tragedy, trauma…
All UNNECESSARILY.
Why?
Because of your FEAR and DISOBEDIENCE!
Take it from someone who has literally driven through a hurricane and experienced and seen things she should NOT have seen…
I could have spared myself MUCH trauma…I could have spared my kids and family the horror of thinking I may be dead…I could have spared myself years of spiritual abuse (this church was one of the churches I went to that put me THROUGH!)….I could have spared myself MUCH DRAMA had I just listened to that still small voice of God that was telling me to GO!!!
It all worked out.
But…I share this to encourage you. You DO NOT have to ride out the judgment wave with your church. GET OUT BEFORE THE WAVE HITS…BECAUSE ITS COMING!!!!
Once it hits, it may be harder-if not impossible-for you to escape!
If you need a ‘lifesaver,’ call (518) 477–5759…TODAY!!!
Judgment Against The Church
12 Monday Mar 2012
1 Peter 4:16-18
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
There are many that cringe at the thought of judgment hitting the ‘house of God.’ They fight statements that say that the church is under judgment. They hold onto to error and teach people that the church is ‘under attack’ and ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church’ every time another scandal about a leader in church comes out, or their actions are brought into scrutiny.
Or criticism.
Criticism and judgment are two words that have taken on a bad meaning in what is known as the ‘church’ today.
To criticize means ‘to pass judgment on the credibility of a thing.’ To judge means ‘to objectively, wisely and authoritatively form an opinion upon. ‘
Another word in the dictionary for JUDGE is TO DISCERN.
I hear many pray for the ‘gift’ of discernment. They erroneously think that discernment is this ethereal force we pull out of the air that breathes upon us and automatically gives us wisdom on all things.
And, yes…the Holy Ghost DOES give wisdom. But obtaining wisdom is a PROCESS. Sometimes, the Spirit will give words of wisdom…that is wisdom that comes from God.
But the Holy Ghost is also a TEACHER. And the process of obtaining wisdom is by way of KNOWELDGE.
You obtain facts. You obtain truth. You measure it against the authenticity of the Word of God.
Sometimes, a LOT of times, actually, we get knowledge based upon EXPERIENCE. Now experience NEVER trumps the Word of God. EVER!
But the Word of God says ALL things work TOGETHER for the good of those who love the Lord…who are called according to HIS purpose.
God is so amazing that He can take everything in our lives and allow us to work for our good. By allowing us to learn from them!
Life is a learning process. Lifelong pursuit.
We gain knowledge by what we have experienced. We gain wisdom by knowing HOW to apply the knowledge we have gained.
Knowledge are FACTS. TRUTH. Pillars. Foundation.
The Bible is stock FULL of facts. Events. Circumstances.
But how we apply the Word to our lives….THAT’S wisdom!
Even in our mess ups, if we are willing to allow God chastise us and show us where we messed up, then He can cause that thing to turn around and be for your good!!!!
But its when we don’t confess our sins-individually or collectively-that God has no other choice but to pronounce judgment!
The corporate lack of discernment in the Institutional Church is because of the mass denial of truth…and the masses denial of judging ourselves as individuals. The very nature and culture of the I.C. is such that it lends to covering up sin more than it does to dealing with and healing sin.
And the only way healing of sin comes is when it is confessed.
Because many fail to judge themselves as individuals, they gather together corporately to further play along in this mass denial of sin in the camp.
And since they won’t deal with sin, but deny it, and cover it up…with programs, conferences, mega ministries, making stars out of preachers, religious cliches and phrases and gross error…THEY LOVE NOT THE TRUTH as stated in Romans 1, God has given them over to reprobate minds.
So that they have to believe the LIE!
No discernment is operating because NO TRUTH is there. In the buildings.
Only lies and cover-ups.
So God HAS to pronounce judgment on the church…He said He would in the Word…and because the church won’t pronounce judgment on HERSELF!
God gave her space to repent…and she would not.
It became easier to placate sin, to make excuses for it, to cover it up, to blackmail one another, and to murder one another…than to deal with the harsh reality that…
GOD HAS JUDGED THE CHURCH!
In ‘Come Out of Her, My People,’ Pamela Sheppard goes into detail about the judgment the church is facing today and what you as a believer can do to get OUT and not be partakers of her plagues.
The nature of a plague is that it spreads rapidly. Plagues are contagious. No matter what measures one takes to not catch a disease, if it is highly contagious, they will get it, sooner or later.
Remember getting the chicken pox as a child? If a sibling or someone else in the house got it, it was only a matter of time before someone else would get it, too. No matter what measures were taken to prevent it from spreading.
The plagues in the church are not airborne. They are spirit-borne. Spiritstransfer. No matter how anointed you are, no matter how holy and righteous you are, no matter how obedient to the Word you are, if you stay in that contaminated atmosphere long enough, sooner or later, that ‘chicken pox’ is going to get you, too!
You could have stayed celibate in your church for 23 years. If you stay there, you will fall into sexual sin.
You could have been faithful in tithes and offerings all your life. If you keep ‘sowing’ into a church or TV network that’s under judgment, your finances will get WORSE.
You could have done all the right things in church, faithful, hard worker, the whole nine. But if you stay there and YOU KNOW God said GO, judgment WILL hit your house.
You could be on the road preaching 8 times a week. But if God said DON’T GO, you better not go! The enemy got a trap waiting for you!
You could sing like a mockingbird, bring tears to balling and wailing all in the floor…but if God said STOP SINGING-cuz they’re not worshiping ME-you better zip it! And don’t sign another contract!
Remember the plagues in Egypt? ALL who were obedient to God suffered the plagues, man, woman and child. NO one was spared!
If the Israelites had not followed the instructions of the Lord to the TEE, they would have suffered right along with the Egyptians in those plagues.
The church was given space to repent and she would not. So she is under judgment…and all the ‘attacks’ you see going on in the I.C. are nothing more than plagues.
Do you want to partake of her sins?
If not, then it’s time you came OUT of the church. She is under judgment…
To Judge…Or Not To Judge…?
12 Monday Mar 2012
“Judge Not, that ye be not Judged…” (Matthew 7:1)
We all are very familiar with this scripture-especially in today’s religious climate of being ‘anti-judgmental.’ It is almost a crime in the church to judge anything or anyone. Even in the world, people who have NEVER opened the bible or attended church…who don’t even believe in God-quote this scripture…
And they ALL do so OUT OF CONTEXT.
I find that this is one of the most misinterpreted, yet overly quoted verses in the bible. Most of the time, it is quoted when one’s life is brought to scrutiny and careful criticism. Or the actions of another. Because of the very nature of most people, they don’t like to be judged. They don’t want folks to know their issues, their sins, their flaws or shortcomings.
So they use this scripture (Im mostly referring to church folks right now) to justify not judging sin…which is the FIRST step in discerning it. This fosters an unhealthy, sinful fear of judging (that God does NOT condone). Of judging others, or even THEMSELVES!
I have figured out that the reason MOST people are afraid of judging others or refrain from doing so is NOT because they are aware of their own sin…but b/c they are hiding from their own sin! Most people are terrified of coming clean and being real with themselves…so they can’t possibly be real with another!
So because everyone is comfortable in their shields and walls of denial, EVERYONE now automatically puts up this defense of ‘we are not to judge anyone….’ to justify not dealing with sin.
They turn around and make Matthew 7:1 a doctrinal statement, instead of reading it in its proper context and really getting what it is saying.
What that scripture is saying is that if we judge, we need to be prepared to be judged. NOT run from it, or be afraid of it. This scripture is NOT to be used as a blanket statement that automatically protects people from being judged.
In 1 Corinthians 6, the Lord tells us that we are going to judge angels and even the world.
1 Corinthians 6:3-5
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Do you know what that means?
That means that if we’re going to be judgers of angels and the world in the future, then how much MORE should we judge things in THIS life NOW????
That means we are to judge even MORE things, circumstances and (YES) people IN THIS LIFE!
The religious devil has done a crafty job of making many people believe that it is a sin to judge, when, in fact, the Lord says THOSE WHO ARE SAVED and SPIRITUAL judges ALL things. (1 Corinthians 2:15)
God has admonished those who are saved that they are going to judge angels.
So it is NOT a sin to judge.
The Greek word used for ‘judge’ in 1 Corinthians 6:3 is ‘krinō,’ which means, ‘tobe of opinion, deem; to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong; to approve, esteem, to prefer.’
To judge then means to make a proper or correct assessment (of either oneself or another) that something (or someone) was right or wrong in a matter.
When we confess our sin, we are, in essence, making a judgment…against ourselves.
When someone commits a crime and confesses to it, they go before a court and a judge…NOT to be judged, but to receive the proper punishment for said crime. Since the person has already admitted guilt, all they can do is throw themselves upon the mercy of the court. No judging of evidence, no pondering of the facts, no CSI is needed. They have confessed…
Well, when we confess our sin, we are honest with God, ourselves and others. Once we do that, NO ONE can judge us, for we have judged OURSELVES and found ourselves guilty.
Then when we realized we have sinned, then we know to take it to God and confess to Him….and ask for forgiveness, repent.
Throw ourselves upon HIS MERCY! Go before HIS MERCY SEAT!
That is the ONLY way we can obtain grace when its needed.
The self (or public) pronouncement of sin is not an indictment of death. Unless you don’t repent. Unless you don’t confess it. Unless you continue to sweep sin under the rug and act like its not there, or it doesn’t exist.
I wrote an article a week or so ago about God exposing our sins.
I know most is not comfortable with this topic. But it is in the darkness of hiding sin that the enemy is allowed free access into our lives, into our very souls…as well as those around us.
It is why whole congregations are led by openly gay pastors and pedophiles. It is why whole flocks are demonized instead of delivered…it is why children of unrepentant parents invariably suffer because of the choices of their parents. It is why spouses have to carry the burden of wayward husbands and wives who won’t repent of their sin.
NO one wants to repent and come clean anymore. No one wants to be honest about where they are. So whole houses are subverted and corrupted.
To Judge…Or NOT To Judge????
THAT IS the QUESTION!!!
How Do I Leave The Church?
11 Sunday Mar 2012
Just walk out…place one foot in front of the other and keep walking.
The STEPS of a good man are ORDERED by the Lord….
GOD WILL LEAD AND DIRECT ALL YOUR PATHS. JUST TRUST HIM!
11 Sunday Mar 2012
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I know you have heard a lot of talk on religious spirits. If you are new to church (as we know it), or if you’ve been in church for over 40 years, this term may baffle you because you have been taught that – as the song goes ‘Religion SO sweet…’
We all have been lulled into a semi- or fully-delusional state where we are drugged into believing something we know deep down inside ‘just isn’t right.’ We just went to church and went along with the programs to get along. We didn’t want to rock the boat, so to speak, out of fear that we would be labeled ‘rebellious,’ ‘unfaithful,’ ‘unteachable,’ or a host of other names leadership likes to place on thinking people who were blessed with common sense AND wisdom to know game when they see it.
Yet even the most discerning, the most wise, the most street-wise of us check our brains in at the door of a church once we enter therein. We erroneously think that we are NOT supposed to use the wisdom and common sense GOD HIMSELF has blessed us with once we walk through the doors of a church. We erroneously believe that God does NOT deal with our minds at all. So any inkling deep down in our guts and minds that game is being played we suppress that, thinking that it’s the devil trying to get us ‘out of the ship.’
How do we properly discern a Religious Spirit?
Well, for starters, I want to present to you that after we are born again, we should not check in our brains at the door. EVERYTHING that God has allowed you to learn-whether it was via books and a teacher, or on the streets, or by life experience-EVERYTHING has been allowed to happen in your life so that you can LEARN A LESSON from it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. We have to learn to not have any regrets…even over mistakes.
Human beings are learning creatures. From the moment we are born into the earth, until the hour we breathe our last breath, we are supposed to be in a CONSTANT state of learning, and probably re-learning, too.
If your gut tells you something ain’t right, then TRUST YOUR INSTINCT!
A religious spirit knows how to look holy, righteous. Just by first glance, you can’t tell the difference between a holy person and a religious one. They will look just like the woman above.
But as time goes on, and you start spending time with that person, you will start to notice inconsistencies. Certain things just wouldn’t line up. You will start seeing glaring imperfections and brazen outright sin in their lives…but the more those weeds in their lives manifest, the more they try to COVER IT UP with works of righteousness, more church work, more random acts of kindness to strangers, more religious works.
The more works of religion and righteousness they do, you will begin to notice that their life does not line up with the Word of God. They will sin and not be convicted of it. They will not respond to the conviction of the Holy Ghost of sin and justify sin, or be in outright denial about their sinful state. And the more they do this, the more active they get in the church. They do more ‘church work,’ hold more revivals, conferences, and convocations, preach harder, prophesy harder…all in an effort to gain their OWN righteousness, to atone for their sins on their own. Their mindset is ‘If I stay in church enough, that will make up for my fornicating last night,’ or ‘If I do A & B, then that will make up for my dealing drugs at that school…’
The demon starts to manifest by then. And it looks a little something like this:
By now, the church lady is cussing, drinking, smoking, lying, threatening to cut folks. When she goes to church, she has her hands upraised. Praising God, speaking in tongues, running around the church, preaching….the whole nine. But when you see her in situations that require her to have patience, she has none. This religious spirit has NO patience. It wants what it wants, when it wants it! They gotta preach…NOW! They gotta prophesy….NOW! They gotta get married…NOW! You wanna see if someone has a religious spirit, tell them NO…or WAIT. If they go off in a tantrum, then you got a religious spirit on your hands!
A religious spirit also is very unaware of the very real fact that they are, too, flawed individuals…with sin. They swim in a pool of SELF-DENIAL. They are in self-denial about EVERYTHING. But the one thing they are in self-denial about is the state of their own selves.
A religious spirit is a potentially dangerous spirit, for there is nothing-NOTHING-a religious spirit WON’T do to protect THEIR IMAGE! THEIR IMAGE IS EVERYTHING TO THEM!!! They don’t believe in self-exposure or disclosure. When they fall into sin, drastic measures are taken to COVER UP their sin. If the religious spirit is a pastor, he/she will employ the help of the church to participate in the cover up. They will use fear tactics and mishandle the Word of God to manipulate and control people into doing what THEY want them to do.
A religious spirit NEEDS an entourage. They need a following. If they dont have anyone following them, they feel useless, rejected, persecuted even. This is when a religious spirit-that demonic spirit-will FULLY manifest….right before your eyes!
A religious spirit is a proud one. It won’t ever admit to being wrong, or doing wrong.
When you have discerned that you are dealing with a religious spirit, the only thing to do is to get away from them. Because until the person comes into the realization and revelation that they have something DEMONIC that’s driving them to do things in church, or do ministry, or for a good cause, there is nothing that can be done for them. Religious spirits are SO insidious and subtle that its hard to recognize….at first glance. It takes TIME to observe a person in all their various atmospheres to determine if they have a religious spirit or not.
In ‘Faces of a Religious Demon’ by Pam Sheppard, many faces of the religious spirit/demon are exposed. It is one of the most thorough teachings on religious spirits that I have ever read.
To find out more on how to discern a religious spirit, get your copy today!
The Dangers of Not Being THANKFUL
10 Saturday Mar 2012
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When we were all little kids, (hopefully) our parents taught us to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you.’
It was taught to us as a part of being mannerable. It’s just good social etiquette to say ‘Thank you’ after someone has done soemething for you or given something to you.
But being thankful doesn’t just stop there…at good manners. Being thankful is a biblical principle that protects us from spiritual deceit, corruption and error.
Being thankful to God does…
I want you to read Romans 1. Study it. Read it again. As I read it again this morning, the scriptures seemed to jump out from the page at me…
Romans 1:17
The Just shall live by FAITH….
If the just lives by faith, this means that they do NOT worry or fret over how their bills are going to get paid. They do NOT covet after the riches of another. They don’t work 8 jobs to keep up with the Joneses. They may have a job, or they may not…but one thing IS for sure…they live BY FAITH.
If more people understood that biblical principle, then the error of the prosperity doctrine would spread no further. Replete among the followers and purveyors of the prosperity message are people who simply LACK FAITH IN GOD. They covet after the riches and possessions of another. And they are NOT thankful FOR WHAT THEY HAVE!
They are greedy. Never satisfied…and certainly not thankful. Not to God…and probably not to their fellow man, either.
There is a danger in not being thankful. It’s not just it offends God. But being unthankful is breeding ground for covetousness and seducing spirits to come in and cause one to err ‘from the faith.’
When we begin to trust in the arm of flesh-ours or anyone else’s-to provide for our needs, instead trusting God implicitly, then we start placing debt, lack, poverty and our not having certain things (even if those things are necessities) on a pedestal, of sorts. The debt, the lack, the poverty…they all become IDOLS in our lives…that replace the POWER and PROVISION OF GOD. We place pre-eminence on our lack instead of faith in our God to provide EVERY NEED that we have…
Once this happens, a domino effect takes place. What starts out as idolatry and lack of faith starts to grow into not SEEING GOD as God in our lives.
Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were THANKFUL; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
When we place our lack, debt, poverty and the such above God in our lives, that thing has become an idol in our lives. God is taken off the throne and our lack, debt, poverty takes its place. And how do we worship the gods of lack, debt, and poverty?
By trusting in the arm of FLESH to provide. By making up doctrines and teachings that will help us feel ‘empowered’ to prosper. Admit it: there is a certain helplessness that comes with lack. Most people HATE it. And will do ANYTHING to avoid feeling helpless.
The downfall of many a man has been that the enemy KNOWS that it is in the innate nature of a man to provide for his family. When this ability is hindered or taken away, this emasculates the man…and many men will do just about anything to provide for their families.
Many of the mega preachers that are so heavily-revered sold out to the god of mammon…they began ‘ministry’ in lack, debt, poverty. Listen to their testimonies of being in poverty. Shaking roaches out of their clothes. Living in houses with the utilities cut off. Wearing the same clothes to church over and over again. Being homeless.
And now they are flying in private jets and living in homes that most would only dream of!
But there was a price that was paid for that fortune, and it wasn’t merely the check they signed over to the realtor when they bought the homes.
The very gospel that they now preach and teach is tainted with error. It makes gods out of temporary circumstances and gets people to trust in formulas and methods and NOT in God.
Look what happens when we do that:
Romans 1:24-25
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
When we start trusting in the arm of flesh and NOT in God, then we start worshipping just that….FLESH.
When you finish reading the first chapter of Romans, you will see that the rise in sexual (and spiritual) perversion has its roots in not recognizing God as God, andNOT BEING THANKFUL.
This is the chapter that goes into the rampant homosexuality and lesbianism that is promised in these times.
And to imagine—it all began with just not being thankful!
The old song used to go like this:
“Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what the Lord has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one….Count your many blessings! See what the Lord has done!”
There IS a danger in NOT being thankful.
The enemy knows in these uncertain (economic) times that many will be vulnerable to fall prey to error, particularly in this area. Falling for the prosperity message keeps one in a constant state of covetousness, all in the guise of appearing to walk in faith for the things that you don’t have…all the while you are missing the blessing of enjoying what you DO have.
God has been really, really good to America. We need not forget that….what does the Word say?
Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
A Sign of False (Or Ineffective) Ministry….
10 Saturday Mar 2012
We all have come in contact with a ministry that we later on deemed as ‘ineffective.’ For those who still attend church…It may have been a church we visited once or a few times. Or a church where we had ‘membership.’
We may have encountered ineffective ministry at a conference we paid big bucks to attend, had planned on it for about a year.
Or we ran across a prayer partner whose prayer just ‘hit the ceiling above us’ and seemed to have NOT reached the ears of God.
Wherever we were, whenever we came across ‘ineffective’ ministry, we walked away from it feeling worse than what we had when we walked TO it!
I have had this experience on SEVERAL occasions. I would go to ‘church’ feeling fine, just going because I had made a habit of ‘going to church.’ There was no crisis going on in my life that compelled me to ‘come into the house of the Lord.’ All was well…
Then after I left the service, I (or one of my children), would take ill, have headaches or bodyaches and a spirit of confusion and strife would hit my house.
I was ALWAYS baffled by this. I would say to myself ‘HOLD UP! I’m supposed to feel better AFTER I leave church, right?’
I would sing ‘The Presence of the Lord is Here’ by Byron Cage at church, but it would be quite obvious that the presence of the Lord HAD NOT been there! If in HIS PRESENCE is FULLNESS of joy, then why was I filled with so much dread and confusion-even pain-after leaving that house?
God reveals things to me as I write. As I was writing something else this morning, He began to speak and tell me a sure-fire way of knowing you have come in contact with ineffective ministry…i.e. a false prophet, or apostle, etc.
One of the ways we can KNOW that we are part of an ineffective ministry is by watching, carefully observing, WHAT THAT MINISTRY FOCUSES ON THE MOST.
We are living in a day and time where there are more what I call ‘fragmented’ ministry. What I mean by fragmented ministry is a ministry whose whole agenda is to minister to you ONE aspect of truth. They key in on one thing in the Word, one promise, etc., and they run and build a WHOLE ministry off that ONE revelation, that ONE truth.
For example, deliverance ministries are on the rise. Deliverance ministries focus in on getting folks ‘delivered.’ There are several ministries that exist today where the word ‘deliverance’ is actually in the name of the ministry. Their ENTIRE focus is to get folks delivered. Not salvation. Not healing. Not teaching. I imagine when you walk into these ‘ministries,’ there are nothing but buckets and sheets all over the place….ready just in case someone has to puke up a demon right during offering!
There are ministries that focus only on prosperity. Some only on healing. Some boast of being strictly a ‘word’ church, or ‘teaching’ church.
When you come across ministries that key in on one aspect of a thing, I can almost GUARANTEE that they are ineffective.
You see, the reason is because the enemy does NOT need to be 100% false to be false. You can have someone with 4% truth and 96% error have a ministry. They can operate in all kinds of sensational, flesh-pleasing gifts. The crowds come in, in awe of it all.
Yet, the question is not how sensational or flesh-pleasing the gifts are…or even if one operates in those gifts. The proof isn’t in how many attend a ministry. The proof isn’t even in how well the leaders operate in those gifts, neither who endorses their gifts or ministry.
The question at the end of the day is WHO IS EFFECTIVE? ARE PEOPLE GETTING SAVED…AND DELIVERED? AND HEALED? AND PROSPERING (THE RIGHT WAY?)
When you come across a ministry that pushes (or markets) one gift, one teaching, one aspect of truth, more than others in their ministry, it is because that is where their strength lies, so they have to ‘push it.’ To cover up the error that is there, too.
About five years ago, I wrote in another blog an article entitled ‘Why Stop At Deliverance?’ Here is an excerpt:
“… there are so many churches that are opened up just based upon deliverance alone. People stop at deliverance. They get so caught up in deliverance, in healing, in prosperity. They don’t realize that it doesn’t end there.
When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, it is safe to say they were not in the will of God. For many, many years, they cried out to God for deliverance. He finally got tired of hearing His children being caught up in bondage that He sent a deliverer, Moses.
Now we all know what a mighty deliverance God wrought for the Israelites!
The signs and wonders that God manifested in that period of the Israelites was awesome!
The ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, His provision in the wilderness….
But how many of you know that the Red sea, the wilderness, the provision was not the end of what God intended for the Israelites!
But they got satisfied with the deliverance. With the signs and wonders. With lifting people up instead of the Promise.
Why did God deliver them? To get them to the Promise!!!!
To SAVE THEM!
But because they got satisfied with the signs and wonders and seeing God provide. With seeing Gods glory shine on Moses’ face instead of getting in the glory for themselves so that THEIR faces can shine…”
“..No matter what a great deliverance God has wrought in your life, if you just stop there, you may be missing salvation. You may miss out on what God wants to do in you.
There was an end to why God delivered the Israelites. Not just so they can be comfortable, or they could go around strutting and bragging on the deliverance. Yes, glorify God for it.
He didn’t deliver them so they can go out and start a ministry in the wilderness!!!!!
Moses had a ministry in the wilderness. God’s glory fell. His face shone with it.
God used Moses to do many things.
But as mightily as Moses was used, that wasn’t then end of it. That wasn’t the intention of God…just so a man could be lifted up.
That is part of the reason I believe God allowed Moses to die in the wilderness. Because folks started lifting him up and not lifting up God.
As many wonderful works God wrought in the wilderness, the Israelites still did what they wanted to do. They still whored after other gods. They still were rebellious and disobedient.
Even those in leadership were knuckle heads! Remember Aaron and Miriam? Aaron made other gods and Miriam had leprosy.
Many died in the wilderness. Why?
No, not because of what we think. But because they all lost focus on what the whole thing was about which is God getting His people to the Promise.”
Pamela Sheppard writes more about the danger of ineffective‘deliverance ministries’ in “Be Delivered From Delivered From Deliverance Ministry.”
Do know that there IS a danger in being a part of an ineffective ministry, or one that only deals with one aspect of truth (more so than other aspects).
How do you EVER expect to be made WHOLE if you keep dealing withFRAGMENTED ministries?
It is time for you to be made WHOLE. Call (518) 477–5759.
The Great Falling Away…
09 Friday Mar 2012
WHAT???? The souls who confessed Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham crusade may not be saved?
That CANNOT be!
YES! It can!
If you need to re-evaluate your salvation-IN A SAFE, UNCONDEMNING, LOVING ATMOSPHERE-CALL (518) 477–5759.
Don’t Go Back…IT’S A TRAP!
09 Friday Mar 2012
Powerful video, uh?
You thought it was the Holy Ghost that sent you back to that church…when it was nothing more than a religious demon sent to trap you, to ensnare you, to trick and bamboozle you back into bondage.
Try the spirits, if you must. Test them…but PASS the test!
If you need help or counsel getting out of church, getting INTO the Kingdom of God, and STAYING out of church, call (518) 477–5759 TODAY!
The Ministerial Corporate Ladder
08 Thursday Mar 2012
In my last article, I talked about the church rat race, how people either blindly or knowingly enter into the rat race…with disastrous results, most of the time.
Well, here I want to talk about the corporate ladder that DOES exist in the church.
I think we can all agree that the church HAS taken on the look, feel and persona of corporate America.
We hear more about business, incorporation and the whole nine more now than ever before in history. I see MANY pastors who have adopted the titles of ‘Chief Executive Officer’ (CEO) of their ministries. Why are they doing that?
Because-as Hezekiah Walker recites in one of his songs-‘gospel has become big business’ today!
The church’s favorite mega preachers are self-confessed business moguls, often holding conferences and going on international television-NOT to spread the good news of the gospel-but to promote doctrines and teachings that read more like these seminars that are held by famous multi-level marketing companies who periodically meet to ‘pump each other up’ as they continue to milk innocent people of their hard earned money.
I went to one of these ‘conferences’ for a very successful financial management multi level company a few years back in Destin, FL. They put us up in a really nice hotel on the beach. They fed us, they entertained us. Then we went to the meetings where they literally pumped up the crowd (I say they even was preaching, since the meeting was held on a Sunday!)
I thought to myself “This is like church…” (this was while I was still in the church system).
As a matter of fact, the sponsor, my upline, was a preacher of a local church!
Many of us know that the higher up you go on the ministerial
ladder, the more likely you are to get PAID!
How many small ministries do you know of whose whole goal in ministry is to be like their favorite mega preachers’ ministry or church? That is why they ‘sow’ into their ministries…do you know that MANY smaller ministries actually tithe off their own tithes they collect in their church services and send their 10% to their favorite mega preacher, or should I say ‘coverings?’
They do this false practice because it is taught and believed that if they sow into the ministry of their favorite preacher-a practice commonly known as ‘sow up-then their own ministries will start to prosper. And when I say ‘prosper,’ I mean they
will start to get million dollar book deals, recording contracts, have tens of thousands on their rolls and will be ‘living large.’
The church system is NOT the church Jesus Christ talks about in the Word, and it is not the Bride He so loves and is coming back for. This church we see today is a caricature-or a distortion-of what it was really meant to be.
As long as this continues, there will be many climbing that ministerial corporate ladder. Why?
Look at my picture above: Notice how the $ sign gets bigger and BIGGER.
Many who start out innocently enough in ministry for the right reasons end up staying in it for the WRONG REASON (I intentionally left off the ‘S!’)
And the reason why is because of the root of ALL evil……MONEY.
The money gets too good. The temptation to no longer struggle financially, the power that having money wields, the status and prestige one gains the higher up they go up the ministerial ladder…and not to mention all of the fringe benefits afforded to those who ‘stay the course.’ These are the reasons WHY the higher up one climbs the ministerial ladder, the more corrupt they become.
I cover this process of how one becomes corrupt in ministry in detail in my book ‘The Makings of a False Prophet.”
Are you a minister that has recognized that you have fallen off the mark?
Have you found that you are becoming more and more money and prestige-hungry, instead of hungry for GOD?
Have you witnessed more corruption and deception within the ranks of ministry and grown weary and disgusted with the whole thing?
Have you actually left God due to the foolishness you have seen amongst your comrades in ministry?
There is healing and deliverance, restoration, FOR YOU!
Call (518) 477–5759 TODAY!
The Church Rat Race
08 Thursday Mar 2012
I am sure many of you have heard of ‘the rat race.’
For those of you who haven’t, allow me to enlighten you. The rat race is a phrase coined for very ambitious people who want to attain to a level of status in life, in pursuit of ‘the American Dream.’
They go to college, they get married, have 2.5 kids, buy the 4.5 bedroom house with the white picket fence. They bust their tails to climb the corporate ladder, to become a success.
Many sacrifice their relationships-even their relationship with God-to ‘successfully’ climb the corporate ladder and run that rat race to the TOP of corporate success.
Many work tirelessly and endlessly-burning the midnight oil-to trump their co-workers’ three-figure salary, or their neighbor’s newly constructed 6 bedroom home and Cadillac.
Then when they get there…they are making that BLING! They are ‘ballin,’ and ‘high callin’. They have reached the top of the corporate ladder. They ran their race…and made it! Frazzled as they may be, littered relationships all along the track where they ran the rat race…but it’s all been worth it, right????
No. Sadly enough, once they reach the top, many realize that it was NOT worth it. And feel hopelessly empty and unfulfilled once they have reached the top of the corporate ladder.
I want to let you know that there IS a rat race that goes on IN THE CHURCH as well.
Do you see that priest running that race up above in the picture?
That is how it really is in the church today.
The sad thing is that many who start going to church do not start going to enter into a rat race, but are attempting to get OUT of the rat race that they were in, in the world.
New converts blindly and trustingly start going to church after they realize that they ‘need Jesus.’ So culture and tradition has taught most that Jesus Christ of Nazareth can only be found within the confines of a church building. So that’s where they go. After being there for a period of time, it is expected of these converts to become apt enough in the Word and the things of God to go and witness and teach others. Pretty soon, the ‘ministry bug’ hits them. They hear a sermon, a false prophecy, or get a false confirmation from somewhere that they are called to ‘preach the gospel.’
It is the next step in the order of the church. First, you join the church, become a member. Then you sit and learn for a few years. Then the pastor gives you a work to do. It may be preaching behind a pulpit. It may not. It might be working in children’s ministry. Or on the praise team. Or teaching new convert’s class. Or nursing home or prison ministry. Pretty soon, it becomes a unspoken rule that ‘la creme de la creme’ of any work done in the church is to get behind a pulpit and ‘preach the gospel.’
If the pastor calls you out and says before the congregation ‘you are called to preach,’ or ‘prophesy…’ then that person is automatically revered above someone who just may work with children. And because of the lack of TRUE identity that lies within the walls of the church-due by the very nature of its structure-breeds insecurity, competition, envy and jealousy amongst its ranks.
There is something about the almighty pulpit that spiritually and physically-in the eyes of the people-put ministers on pedestals.
Soon, these ministers-to-be find themselves thrust into a church rat race, towards the pulpit!
They climb the ministerial ladder that has been set up among the errant religious church system, that pits people against each other…who are supposed to be part of the same body.
They do this believing that this is the will of God for their lives…because a preacher said so. The reason so many in the church lack identity is intentional. It is a plot of the enemy to make ALL of the people JUST ALIKE. To get the masses to come to one organization, and be ‘faithful’ to that organization. To give their all to that organization. To be loyal to a man or a woman of God…even moreso than to GOD Himself.
Its a rat race I believe most are thrust into ignorantly, sucked into the church ministerial system, because a leader saw their natural gifts and talents and are trying to benefit from them. Most leaders raise up leaders so that when that church system is up and running, THEY will get the tithes and offerings from the church they helped raise up.
Some people intentionally enter the church rat race because it is their nature to be competitive and they seek power and control within the religious system. They need a following, someone to cheer them on as they pursue their ‘careers’ in ministry, as well as needing the financial backing of the church. Especially in the uncertain economic times we are living in, where else can one with virtually no education or viable work experience can gain a following and a sure income but within the ministry?
There are people that will literally kill folks to get to the pulpit. Their ambitious natures are so strong that they will sacrifice their very relationships with God to enter into-and stay-in ministry. In ‘The Makings of a False Prophet,” I go into detail as to why this is the case.
No matter the reason why people enter the church rat race, they do. And sad to say, once they reach the pulpit, once they reach the heights of ministerial success, they realize that the price they paid to get there was NOT worth it. They look back at all the littered, wasted relationships, the sacrifices made, the tears shed, the money spent, the time wasted….and get there and still are very much unfulfilled, still very much miserable, not feeling like they still are not doing what God would have them to do.
I personally know many people who have reached the heights of ministerial success, and yet are VERY miserable on the inside. I get calls all the time from them. They have more than one church, happily married, 5 bedroom house with the white picket fence, get invited to preach at this conference and the next….yet they are on the verge of suicide.
We all witnessed someone climbing the ministerial success ladder and his very public and shameful demise…that of Zachary Tims. I mean if anyone had ‘made it’ ministerially, Tims was it. He looked like Will Smith, was hosting TBN almost every day, pastored a mega church in Florida, beautiful wife and kids, the bling, the endorsement of Benny Hinn…yet in the end, his life was ramsackled with adultery, scandal and drug abuse. And it literally cost him his life…
I am convinced most people who enter the church rat race do so blindly, not knowing what to expect. Not knowing what demons can be picked up along the way of running this rat race…They enter in only desiring to do what God says…they just mistakenly hear a religious demon that is interested in trapping them and destroying them.
If you have entered the church rat race and can’t get off the wheel alone, there IS help for you.
Just call (518) 477–5759.
The Prosperity ‘Gospel’
07 Wednesday Mar 2012
1 Timothy 6:9-11
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
DON’T FALL FOR THE HYPE OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL!
But if you have, you’re not alone. There IS restoration …only IN GOD!
Call 518-477-5759 or visit http://pamsheppard.com http://settingcaptivesfree.me/ebooks.
LIGHTS, CAMERA….ACTION!!!!!!
07 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in deception, deliverance, organized church, religious demon
Where did pulpits come from?
A pulpit is another word for a podium, a platform, a stage (Mirraim Webster Dictionary).
What do people do from a podium or stage?
They give speeches and performances.
Speeches and performances-putting on a facade-comes naturally (and supernaturally) with the use of the pulpit in the organized church.
Pulpits can be dated back to the 14th century in medieval churches. They were created by priests in the temples who were trying to compete for the attention of followers of migrant preachers who preached outside-much like John the Baptist and Jesus Christ of Nazareth Himself-did…OUTSIDE of the temples.
The migrant preachers only had a small piece of wood that they stood on outside to preach the Kingdom of God. They often could be heard by temple-goers while they were in service. So the priests and heads of the church created the pulpit so that their voices could carry ‘over’ the preaching and teaching going on outside. To keep the attention of the people.
It was a competitive thing between the insitutionalized priests and the preachers and teachers of the Kingdom of God who proclaimed God’s word OUTSIDE of the four walls of the church.
Over time, the pulpits became more elaborate in design, seemingly as to draw attention to the speaker of the hour-and to divert attention AWAY from THE WORD, who is JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.
Charles Tracy, author of ‘Medieval English Pulpits,’ calls pulpits ‘objects of parochial pride and authority.’
What a fitting definition!
Pulpits as we know them today have morphed into ’objects of parochial pride and authority‘ indeed, in stark contrast to what they started out as. There is mention of the word ‘pulpit’ in the Word of God only once, and that is in Nehemiah 8:4, when Ezra the scribe read the Torah to the people, he taught the people. Afterwards, they repented…
The Hebrew word used for pulpit here is ‘migdal,’ which means ‘an elevated stage or pulpit.‘
And the pulpit Nehemiah used was NOT inside of a temple; it was OUTSIDE. Just read the entire 8th chapter and you will see this is so.
This would explain why the migrant preachers of the 14th century were preaching on ‘slabs of wood’ OUTSIDE of the synagogues and temples.
Hmmmm, isn’t that odd?
It seems to me the pulpit originated OUTSIDE of the four walls of the church!
The practice of having elaborate pulpit/podiums/platforms did not start until the 14th century, and that was only to compete with the preachers outside of the church preaching the Kingdom of God!
Why were they competing?
They were competing for the numbers. The priests inside of the temples have always been into the numbers’ game. They will do whatever they need to to keep people coming to their churches. More people inside of the temples meant easier control of the masses. It would be easier to try and hinder THE church-THE Ekklesia- that Jesus Christ of Nazareth died for by gathering them all in one place, then indoctrinating and infiltrating error into the masses.
And more people meant MORE money for the temples!
Is it any wonder the stuff we see going on ‘in the pulpit’ is so crazy today?
We like to call preachers in pulpits ‘hypocrites,’ but what else do we expect when we place someone on a platform or a stage?
A hypocrite is someone who puts on a show, behind a mask.
Isn’t the WHOLE purpose behind putting someone on a platform or a stage is to see them….PERFORM? Or be SOMEONE ELSE?
When you spend $500 to go see a Tyler Perry play, you don’t go to the Convention Center, find your seat, sit down, only to watch the stage, do you?
When you go to your child’s school because lil Johnny is going to be the bumblebee in the spring play, you would be angry if you just sat there for 2 hours in the school auditorium-camcorder on standby-only to see an empty stage?
When you travel to a hair show in Hotlanta, sponsored by Dudley’s Products, wouldn’t you be tee’d off if you just sat there, never seeing any models come down the ramp?
Well, whenever we put someone on a pedestal, on a stage, behind a podium…and YES, even a pulpit, we must expect that they WILL perform! And a performance is NEVER REAL!
STOP getting mad at finding out that preachers are actors, puppets on a string. You placed them on the stage to perform, not to minister TRUTH to you.
A minister of truth is going to step DOWN from the pulpit and minister to you, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE! They are NOT going to hide behind clergy collars, cassocks, long flowing robes and fancy pulpits that cost more than what you make in one year.
A minister of truth is going to TELL YOU THE TRUTH. And they will do it wherever you happen to be. You don’t have to dress up and go to a building to be set free.
Do YOU need that type of minister? Do church buildings and all its rhetoric and hype intimidate you? Do you tire of the hypocrisy of churchgoers and preachers, in particular? Yet you see the need for ministry?
The team at Pam Sheppard Ministry (don’t be fooled by the word ministry….) are prepared to meet you right where you are, no matter where that may be.
Just give us a call at (518) 477–5759 TODAY!
Falling In Love With Jesus…
06 Tuesday Mar 2012
Posted in deception, deliverance, demons and devils, religious demon
I remember singing this song right before a sermon in 2005, right before Katrina. This song became the basis for a ‘cliche’ that we hear many in church say and proclaim like it is normal.
“Falling In Love with Jesus, Falling In Love with Jesus, Falling in Love with Jesus, is the best thing I’ve ever done…”
Now that I have shown you the dangers of ‘falling in love,’ I think I can safely inform you that ‘falling in love with Jesus’ is a dangerous thing.
“What?” I know what you are saying. ”How could falling in love with Jesus be a bad thing?”
Ok, to recap, the whole phrase and mindset of ‘falling in love’ is a gross misonomer. It leads to making lifelong decisions based upon an emotional high, a delusion. I have seen many people ‘fall in love’ and lose their lives, either naturally, or spiritually.
Remember, ‘falling in love’ means that we blindly jump heart-first into a relationship or alliance with someone who has not been proven or tested. We fail to guard our hearts with ALL diligence, as the Word admonishes us to.
MANY people go to church, seeking after God. The preacher preaches them happy, then tells them to walk down the aisle, shake their hand, and ‘accept Jesus into their hearts.’
Then they are told they are born again, they are saved. That they are ‘in relationship’ with Jesus.
They haven’t sought God on their own. They haven’t prayed. They haven’t cracked open the Word to study to show THEMSELVES approved.
They just blindly-and prematurely-accepted the preacher’s spiritual assessment of themselves.
My question to you all that walked down the aisle is this:
WHAT Jesus did you enter into relationship with?
What’s His name?
What does He look like?
How do you KNOW He loves you? What did He do for you? Do you KNOW?
Did you repent of your sins? Were you EVER told that you had to?
What do you know about THE CROSS? The Resurrection?
DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE JESUS PAID FOR YOU?
Or did you merely get saved based upon what a preacher told you to repeat?
If you did, you got in relationship with the FAKE JESUS!
YES! There is a REAL Jesus Christ of Nazareth…AND a FAKE ONE!
The fake Jesus’ name is Jesus Immanuel Sananda. This is what he looks like:
The Word of God tells us that the devil can transform himself into an angel of light. Jesus Immanuel Sananda is a fallen angel that seeks the love, adoration, praise, worship and devotion of the masses, much like Lucifer coveted after the worship of the angels in heaven.
This picture of ‘Jesus’ is in millions of churches, homes, as well as other paraphanelia across the WORLD. Many pray to the pictures, or whatever this image is affixed to, thinking that they are praying to the real Jesus.
Many are ‘in love’ with THIS jesus…but they think they are ‘in love’ with the REAL Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
It’s not their faults. Just like many blindly fall in love with their mates, their boyfriends and girlfriends, without knowing the full details, without trying the spirits to see if they be of God, without doing a thorough background search, without withstanding the test of time….MANY people jump heart-first into a ‘relationship’ with a jesus they BARELY know!
Everything is hunky dorey, at first.
| In Love with a Personwalks in the parks
holding hands spending all their time together much gift giving hasty, rush-rush marriages will stay in abusive situations |
In Love with the fake Jesusfaithful church attendance
loyalty to pastor/church hours in fasting/prayer sowing 1000s of dollars into ministry hasty decisions to enter into ministry will stay in abusive churches |
But as time passes along, the beautiful fake Jesus they allowed to ‘impregnate’ them with a vision, a dream, a ministry, etc., starts to morph into something ugly, grotesque, demonic, much like the transition a woman trapped in an abusive marriage sees. How she watches as the man she loves and gave herself to on their wedding day turn into a monster who beats her almost every day. Who mocks and laughs at her very existence…the very love he claimed to have had for her never really was…and now she realizes it…5, 10, 15 years into the marriage from hell.
By now, she feels trapped, even though she sees the dysfunction of her marriage. Even though he brought home an STD to her, she stays. Even though that evangelist saw the dysfunction of her ministry, she stays.
By now, the lady-who has caught her husband cheating on her more times than she can remember, she can barely remember when he said ‘I do.’
Many in the organized church system are like abused women stuck in abusive marriages. They feel like they have invested so much time, prayer and energy into their churches, their ministries…and plus they are ashamed to admit that they have been duped, hoodwinked, bamboozled, so they stay. They fall for the lie of the enemy that keeps lying to them telling them that they should stay so they can intercede for their churches, their marriages….
All because they ‘fell in love with A jesus…’ and NOT the REAL Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Don’t be so quick to give your hearts away….you NEVER know who you’re giving it to!!!!!
I Can’t Help…Falling In Love With You?
06 Tuesday Mar 2012
Posted in deception, deliverance, demons and devils, religious demon
That is a line for the song made famous by the late Elvis Presley.
We all have fallen in love.
We all have been weak in the knees, hearts skipping a beat, stars in our eyes. We all have been in love with a person, where all we could think about was that other person. Or so in love WITH being IN LOVE, that all we thought about was our next conquest, our next relationship. It became an obsession!
The whole phenomena of ‘being in love’ is nothing more than an euphoric high, much like being high on drugs…
OR MUCH like being in an altered state of consciousness!
Read this excerpt from ‘Emotional Programming To Falling In Love’ written by James Leonard Park:
Falling in Love as Temporary Insanity.
“…Romantic love is an altered state of consciousness. We seem possessed by an alien force taking over our hearts. Everything seems wonderful—especially the object of our love. Our ‘spontaneous’ love-reactions pull us together into a whirlpool of hopeless, uncontrollable, overwhelming passion. ‘Falling in love’ is like surfing on an ocean wave —sliding down a surging force beyond our control. Romantic love is blind because we are really responding to our own internal fantasies, well-prepared by the romantic tradition. For years, we have been yearning for our Dream Lover. And when a close approximation appears, we project all our pent-up fantasies upon that unsuspecting victim. These experiences are really being in love with love.
Such ‘love’ is entirely an emotion, taking place inside our own skins.
We can abandon these cultural delusions and begin to establish our relationships based on real information about each other and genuine commitment toward each other. Loving without illusions lacks the emotional high of romantic love, but for on-going relationships truth is better than fiction. Instead of projecting our pre-existing fantasies, we can get to know each other as we really are —and as the persons we are becoming….”(http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/CY-HOAX.html)
If we keep in mind that we do the same thing with religion-deal with delusions instead of reality-it is not far-fetched to conclude that there is an ongoing agenda among the religious ranks to get everyone within its grasp ‘in love,’ if not with each other, than ‘in love’ with the institution or the organization of the church. Or ‘in love’ with the people. ’In love’ with the fake prosperity, the fake peace, the fake joy that the organized church always promises.
I was thinking about this the other day. How falling in love is just another form of being in an altered state of consciousness.
Then I began to understand what the enemy is trying to do to folks in church.
There is a trend in church where more and more people are searching for their ‘soul mates’ in church. There are people (in church) who are literally obsessed with the idea of getting married, finding ‘the one’ God has for them. The search for love with the walls on the institutional church has become a ministry in and of itself!
We MUST be careful!
The organized church-and the religious spirit that rules it-makes MANY promises. None of which it intends to or even is capable of keeping. There are preachers that are setting up ministries AS WE SPEAK whose SOLE PURPOSE is NOT to help you find your soul mate, but to profit off of YOUR DESIRE to be married, to fall in love, to have kids, etc.
If they can keep you fixated and focused on what you DON’T have in your life, then they have succeeded in keeping you distracted.
The spirit of religion is nothing more than a matchmaker STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BELLY OF HELL…and it wants nothing less than YOUR ANNIHILATION.
MOST ‘Christian’ marriages that take place were NOT put together by God. THIS is why the divorce rate is so high…That which GOD has put together….NO man can put asunder.
Furthermore, MOST of these ministries and conferences, conference calls and the such that are set up to help ‘save your marriages’ or make lofty claims that they are helping foster relationships are mere set-ups from the enemy to get you too focused on fighting a battle that GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR YOU TO FIGHT from the jump.
If all you can think about is your mate, then the RELIGIOUS DEMON has got you.
The spirit of Jezebel gets people to fornicate. The spirit of fornication is derived from lust, which is mistaken most of the time for love. The hormone oxytocin is released in men and women when they fall in love and even in greater amounts when they have sex. Oxytocin promotes trust. So while the Word of God admonishes us to guard our hearts – with ALL diligence – the world AND the church encourages and enables people to give their love away…freely, without discretion, discernment or caution.
And when one does practice caution in their relationships, they are falsely labeled as ‘wounded and unforgiving.’
No, that is wisdom to proceed with CAUTION.
The enemy’s job is to divert the believer’s attention AWAY from the purpose(s) of God. To get people fixated upon THIS life ONLY…its comforts, its pursuits, its agendas, its happiness.
‘Falling in love, getting married, having 2.5 kids,’ is all part of what is called the ‘American Dream.’ Also included in that dream is home ownership, the white picket fence, the minivan and a 30 year career, followed by a successful retirement.
For many today, the home with the white picket fence part, as well as the 30 year career and retirement part of that dream is up in flames. (Oops! There goes the prosperity message!…UP IN FLAMES!)
So the last bastion of hope that we all can live the American dream is to still, at least, be able to ‘fall in love, get married and have kids.’
So what ‘dream’ is being sold now, more than that 3.5 bedroom, 4 bath house on the market down the street?
The ‘dream’ of falling in love!
There IS a reason why it is called ‘falling in love.’ Because you have to ‘fall’ to be in it.
STOP seeking the high of falling in love. Because the enemy KNOWS what you like and will send it to you, hook, line AND SINKER!
Do you need help falling OUT of love with someone who just know is not good for you? Even though they are a leader in church? Caught up in an abusive situation with a leader in a church?
Or are you ‘in love with your church? Your denomination? Your pastor or leaders, yet you know deep down inside, something is wrong?
First, GET OUT OF DANGER. LEAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP. FOR GOOD!
Then when you are out of danger-and ready for healing, call us at 518-477-5759 for help.
We are here for YOU!
“I Need CONFIRMATION!” Part 1
05 Monday Mar 2012
Many have been found saying this very thing to themselves. Usually, they are at a crossroads, where they are trying to get an answer to prayer, or have received an answer to prayer, and want a ‘sign’ from God that what they heard was actually from HIM.
And most of the time, these people will heavily rely upon outward (supernatural) signs or ‘prophecies’ to back up what they have previously heard.
We all have been there, at that place where we heard from God, but thought we didn’t. So we didn’t walk out the word we heard, at least not until someone ‘confirmed’ what the Lord God said to us.
For some, it took the pastor preaching on what we heard in the next sermon, or a prophet called us up to the front of the church and the prophecy ‘confirmed’ what we already had heard from God.
Or what we THOUGHT was from God…
What IS confirmation, anyways?
I found two different definitions of confirmation. The first I was already aware of: confirmation is the act of confirming or verifying something. It is additional proof that something that was previously believed is, in fact, true. It authenticates a previously known truth or belief.
But did you know that a confirmation is also a rite of passage among the Catholic Church where a baptized person is given ‘full membership’ into the church? According to http://www.catholicism.com, the confirmation 1) unites one firmly to Christ; 2) increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit; 3) renders one’s bond to the church more perfect; and 4) gives one special strength to become witnesses.
I had never heard of this ceremony within the Catholic Church. It is usually performed by a bishop, but sometimes bishops delegate authority to priests to conduct the confirmations within their respective dioceses.
Right away, I can tell you that this ceremony reeks of religiosity. It feeds the notion that one needs a mortal man-i.e. a priest-to stand between us and God…to speak for us. To pray for us. To ‘sacrifice’ for us, much like the Levitical priests did in the Old Testament. They take on the role of the Holy Ghost and demand loyalty and commitment NOT TO GOD, but to the local church.
I liken the rite of confirmation to these ‘impartation’ services held with pentecostal, non-denominational and word of faith churches and ministries that encourage people to come to the altar and get hands laid on them so they can receive ‘an impartation,’ healing, deliverance, revelation knowledge, and the works.
I believe ALL such ceremonies and tendencies to ‘need confirmation’ are totally unnecessary, and actually hinders one in their own growth in their relationship with God.
1) You don’t need to ‘pledge allegiance’ to a church, a denomination, a man, a woman, a fellowship and the such to be deemed faithful TO GOD. God does NOT require such religious obligation from you. HE SIMPLY REQUIRES YOUR FAITH. WITHOUT FAITH, IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD (Hebrews 11:6).
2) You cannot be a member of the church. You ARE the church, if you are born again.
3) There is NO ceremony that magically bonds us closer to Christ Jesus. NONE. All ceremonies are man-made traditions that actually open you up to be tormented by demons. Most of these ‘bishops’-in both the Catholic and Protestant realms-are doing nothing more than imparting demons into unknowing people who think they are getting closer to God by participating in them.
4) You do NOT get the Holy Ghost by natural means. ANY group that claims you can get it by means of participating in their ‘rites’ are lying to you. You will NOT be receiving the HOLY Ghost. You WILL be receiving ‘another spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 11:4-6)
The need for confirmation really speaks to the lack of faith in the one seeking confirmation. They lack faith that God will do just what He said He would do. It could be out of immaturity. It could be because they have not gone through enough-and watch God bring them out enough-to have developed a healthy, mature, unwavering faith and trust in God. It could be for a whole lot of reasons.
In ‘To Curse The Root‘ by Pamela Sheppard, she further discusses people’s need for confirmation:
“…By losing all confidence in our self esteem, we will gain His esteem. We will not be tossed to and fro by pride and vanity because He will cause us to be immovable, unshakable trees that are tooted and grounded in Him. His acts of consolation will serve as a confirmation that He can be trusted in every crisis, every temptation, every trial.”
Please continue on to Part 2 to understand where this mindset of ‘I Need Confirmation’ first originated, and why it has survived the test of time…
DETOXING FROM RELIGION BY RESURRECTION POWER! 