A Testimony

[only a sojourner]

Paradoxum, I don't have all the answers as to the nature of evil in the world, much less the role that various nations play with regard to this question. However I do know there is a war going on between light and darkness and that an invisible world exists which interacts with our visible one. I will share some events which happened to me more then 25 years ago. I had just lost a job and was suicidal. I was checking out railroad tracks to find a spot where I could run out in front of a train. I met with with a pastor who was gifted with a word of knowledge and had an experience that was similar to the circumstances of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well. I was talking about philosophy with him when at some point in our conversation the pastor began telling me details about my life since my childhood. It brought me to tears as I knew that God was speaking to me through this man and showing compassion on my circumstances. The deep depression immediately lifted. He also told me that I was demonized. A short time after this I began receiving strong impressions that this pastor was trying to start a deliverance ministry and that if he were to persist in this that his next child,a son, would be born either mentally retarted or neurologically impaired and that if this were avoided he would eventually develop a mental illness. I was not aware that his wife was pregnant and that they were receiving medical information that their unborn child was likely to be born mentally retarted or with a neurological disability. I was not sure what to do so I told the pastor. He told me to break off all relationships with my friends, but not family members or leave his church. I had difficulty doing this and left the church but joined a related church nearby. The churches merged a short while after this. I was at a meeting around this time, attended by several hundred people, in which the pastor related these events describing me a "a demon possessed man" without naming me specifically. I apologized to his wife after the meeting. His son has grown up normally and the pastor now has an international prophetic ministry. We fully reconciled a few years ago. There are many in the leadership of Redeemer Church that are acquainted with these events and that can attest to its veracity. As in the apostolic days God wants to make his glory known with power and demonstration.

Now these impressions would clearly have been delusional if not for the fact that they were true. Clairvoyant knowledge is considered a proof of demonic possession. This encounter had a life changing effect on me. When we step out in God, as this pastor did, you can be subject to an attack by the enemy. These circumstances also suggest the role that demonic activity can have in disease. In our modern culture in which naturalism is considered self evident, a basic, fundamental assumption or belief, and demon possession medieval superstition what I am describing could not have happened. However what I related happened exactly as I stated without embellishment. It is your choice as to whether you believe or reject it as impossible because it does not agree with your world view.

Paradoxum, I am not sure why the Lord Jesus showed me this mercy, but I am grateful. I know that I am not unique. I am not sure why he has not revealed himself to you, at least not yet. I urge those of you reading this thread to pray for Paradoxum, not just now, but in the coming months to not forget her. She is precious to the Lord Jesus. This discussion actually had its start in a thread on International Politics on a topic about China and veered considerably off course which is why I decided to create a new thread continuing the discussion with anyone interested. I happened to be out of work sick today and had some time for activities like this. Because I am normally very busy I may not get back promptly but I will get back to you.

 

[only a sojourner]

I had a very difficult time posting the initial post in this thread. It would be typing and suddenly find myself in an ad and would have to start over again or what I wrote would disappear. I was unable to include the word [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] unless I misspelled it as retarted and phrases I had not written kept inserting themselves in the text. Very strange.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I'll pray for Paradoxum! She needs saved from her amoral sex-robot ways!

 

[Paradoxum]

Paradoxum, I don't have all the answers as to the nature of evil in the world, much less the role that various nations play with regard to this question. However I do know there is a war going on between light and darkness and that an invisible world exists which interacts with our visible one.

That's quite a claim.

I will share some events which happened to me more then 25 years ago. I had just lost a job and was suicidal.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I hope you don't mind me criticising things you claim here. I generally say I'm against religion, but I still feel like a big meanie when strongly criticising someone's entire faith.

How much would it matter to you if you lost faith? Would you want to know there was no God if there was no God?

I was checking out railroad tracks to find a spot where I could run out in front of a train. I met with with a pastor who was gifted with a word of knowledge and had an experience that was similar to the circumstances of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well. I was talking about philosophy with him when at some point in our conversation the pastor began telling me details about my life since my childhood. It brought me to tears as I knew that God was speaking to me through this man and showing compassion on my circumstances. The deep depression immediately lifted.

I'm sorry but I'm skeptical. Sceptical of things like the amount of detail he gave/ how vague it was. I hope you don't mind my skepticism... and I don't deny that it helped you.

He also told me that I was demonized. A short time after this I began receiving strong impressions that this pastor was trying to start a deliverance ministry and that if he were to persist in this that his next child,a son, would be born either mentally retarted or neurologically impaired and that if this were avoided he would eventually develop a mental illness. I was not aware that his wife was pregnant and that they were receiving medical information that their unborn child was likely to be born mentally retarted or with a neurological disability.

I'd guess at coincidence... perhaps.

I was not sure what to do so I told the pastor. He told me to break off all relationships with my friends, but not family members or leave his church. I had difficulty doing this and left the church but joined a related church nearby.

That seems like a strange thing for him to tell you.

The churches merged a short while after this. I was at a meeting around this time, attended by several hundred people, in which the pastor related these events describing me a "a demon possessed man" without naming me specifically. I apologized to his wife after the meeting. His son has grown up normally and the pastor now has an international prophetic ministry. We fully reconciled a few years ago. There are many in the leadership of Redeemer Church that are acquainted with these events and that can attest to its veracity. As in the apostolic days God wants to make his glory known with power and demonstration.

Why did you say sorry? Because you scared them based on a feeling (that didn't turn out true)? Why were you said to be 'demon possessed'?

I'm not sure what the point of this story is.

Now these impressions would clearly have been delusional if not for the fact that they were true.

I thought you said the child grew up fine.

Clairvoyant knowledge is considered a proof of demonic possession.

Many Christians would claim that clairvoyant knowledge could be from God.

This encounter had a life changing effect on me. When we step out in God, as this pastor did, you can be subject to an attack by the enemy. These circumstances also suggest the role that demonic activity can have in disease. In our modern culture in which naturalism is considered self evident, a basic, fundamental assumption or belief, and demon possession medieval superstition what I am describing could not have happened. However what I related happened exactly as I stated without embellishment. It is your choice as to whether you believe or reject it as impossible because it does not agree with your world view.

Again, I thought you said the child was fine. Even if the child wasn't... I'm not sure that proves demons exist. 'Psychics' and mediums make claims that seem to be true, but that doesn't mean they have magic powers.

I also don't know what this has to do with demons causing disease. We know how most diseases occur. I don't really get from your story why you think demons were causing disease.

Paradoxum, I am not sure why the Lord Jesus showed me this mercy, but I am grateful. I know that I am not unique. I am not sure why he has not revealed himself to you, at least not yet. I urge those of you reading this thread to pray for Paradoxum, not just now, but in the coming months to not forget her. She is precious to the Lord Jesus.

I'm an amazing person.

Obviously if there's a God it would be nice for him to drop by and say 'hi'... hopefully in the presence of witnesses.

This discussion actually had its start in a thread on International Politics on a topic about China and veered considerably off course which is why I decided to create a new thread continuing the discussion with anyone interested. I happened to be out of work sick today and had some time for activities like this. Because I am normally very busy I may not get back promptly but I will get back to you.

I had a very difficult time posting the initial post in this thread. It would be typing and suddenly find myself in an ad and would have to start over again or what I wrote would disappear. I was unable to include the word [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] unless I misspelled it as retarted and phrases I had not written kept inserting themselves in the text. Very strange.

That must be annoying. :s

 

[Paradoxum]

I'll pray for Paradoxum! She needs saved from her amoral sex-robot ways!

Shhh... that's private, don't tell them.

 

[only a sojourner]

Paradoxum, I hope I did not overstep my bounds and offend you in any way. I had compassion on you because of what you had told me- that you felt abandoned by God, because your prayers were not answered because He did not reveal or prove Himself to you. This was the reason I wanted others to pray for you so that God would answer your prayers and become real to you once again. May the Lord Jesus richly bless you Paradoxum.

 

[only a sojourner]

Paradoxum, what the pastor told me was deeply personal and I don't feel comfortable relating it even though there is I suppose anonymity on this forum. Suffice to say it was specific enough and spoke to the heart of my circumstances at that time, in a way he could not have known. It changed my life and set me on a different track. I'm sorry if this does not satisfy your curiosity.

It was beyond coincidence that I could have known what the doctors were saying. His son never developed these afflictions because the Lord Jesus is able to protect the faithful from demonic assaults.

Demons are able to counterfeit the gifts of the Spirit. The word of knowledge is similar to the clairvoyance of psychics. A demon possessed person can sometimes speak in a language unknown to them, a parody of the gift of tongues, the predictions of psychics mimic the gift of prophecy.

When I was in my late teens and early 20's I did many foolish things. I invited demons to inhabit the house I was living in. I personally knew several Satanists. I traveled with one in particular. Although I was inclined toward agnosticism I dabbled in eastern religion, tarot cards, Transcendental Meditation, spiritualism. I knew people that were involved in various occultic practices. I opened many doors to Satanic oppression.

I am drawn toward the deeper experiences of God and wish to know Him in a more tangible way, to be of service to Him

 

[Paradoxum]

Paradoxum, I hope I did not overstep my bounds and offend you in any way. I had compassion on you because of what you had told me- that you felt abandoned by God, because your prayers were not answered because He did not reveal or prove Himself to you. This was the reason I wanted others to pray for you so that God would answer your prayers and become real to you once again. May the Lord Jesus richly bless you Paradoxum.

You didn't offend me. I appreciate that you care.

Paradoxum, what the pastor told me was deeply personal and I don't feel comfortable relating it even though there is I suppose anonymity on this forum. Suffice to say it was specific enough and spoke to the heart of my circumstances at that time, in a way he could not have known. It changed my life and set me on a different track. I'm sorry if this does not satisfy your curiosity.

It was beyond coincidence that I could have known what the doctors were saying. His son never developed these afflictions because the Lord Jesus is able to protect the faithful from demonic assaults.

That's fair that you don't want to say. I've heard many stories about miracles, healings, peoples going to heaven and hell, interaction with God. The problem is that I don't know how true these stories are. That isn't to say all of them are lying, they could just misunderstand what happened.

If your experience made you happier, then it's at least good in some sense.

Demons are able to counterfeit the gifts of the Spirit. The word of knowledge is similar to the clairvoyance of psychics. A demon possessed person can sometimes speak in a language unknown to them, a parody of the gift of tongues, the predictions of psychics mimic the gift of prophecy.

Well maybe... I'm not a demon expert.

When I was in my late teens and early 20's I did many foolish things. I invited demons to inhabit the house I was living in. I personally knew several Satanists. I traveled with one in particular. Although I was inclined toward agnosticism I dabbled in eastern religion, tarot cards, Transcendental Meditation, spiritualism. I knew people that were involved in various occultic practices. I opened many doors to Satanic oppression.

I am drawn toward the deeper experiences of God and wish to know Him in a more tangible way, to be of service to Him

Calling demons into your house seems strange to me.

 

[Gadarene]

Explicitly calling demons into your house is one thing, but I really do find the Christian tendency to call anything spiritual that isn't sufficiently Christian enough 'demonic'.

TM is not demonic. Heck even Satanism isn't demonic given that they basically just exist to put the wind up Christians (rather effectively in some cases).

 

[only a sojourner]

Gadarene, all occultic practices, and certainly Satanism, are open doors to demonic oppression, bondage and torment. I could not leave your post alone without warning those reading this thread of the danger they place themselves in by dabbling in these things. My testimony is only one example of what can happen.

 

[Gadarene]

Gadarene, all occultic practices, and certainly Satanism are open doors to demonic oppression, bondage and torment. I could not could leave your post alone without warning those reading this thread of the danger they place themselves in by dabbling in these things. My testimony is only one example of what can happen.

I simply don't believe you, sorry. People are often fooled by these things, or misattribute them. Christians are very often simply over-credulous.

And I'm too cynical of prior experience Christians going all Chicken Little on anything remotely non-Christian to really believe similar now.

 

[only a sojourner]

Knowing what I know it would be very foolish for me to stray from my faith. Rather then focusing on my personal experience I would like to recommend 3 books that I have already listed on the Spirit Filled/Charismatic sub-forum. Acts Today, Signs and Wonders of the Holy Spirit by Ralph Harris provides many verified accounts of healings, Xenoglossolalia, divine provision and other supernatural occurrences. Also God's Generals by Roberts Liardon includes the biographies of Smith Wigglesworth, Maria Woodworth-Etter, John G. Lake, William Branham, Katheryn Kuhlman and several others. Only Believe by Don Stewart includes many accounts of supernatural occurrences in various Christian ministries. These books should be readlilly available on Amazon.com, Christian Book Distributors or the like at least in the US and Canada and hopefully elsewhere as well