Billy Graham on demonic items

[Jo555]

Not sure if this is the place for this, but I was falling asleep with the tube on and I noticed Billy Graham came on, whom I love, but was more intent on sleeping.

Anyway, as he spoke i was half-heartedly listening, until I felt the presence of the Lord awakening within me. I listened more intently.

So I don't really see much on there for me, except two things that were possibilities. One I got rid of, the other I will once I find where I put it. I had put it away at the time questioning it and not wanting it on display. It was also a gift so I decided to keep for now until I could decide what to do with it (toss or just leave it stored out of sight), but I would not display. Once i remember where i put it, it's gone. Will keep looking until I find.

So may seem something minor to some, but throughout my life I've witnessed the truth in these things and I'm very cautious what I bring in my home, etc, with the exception of that gift that i was apprehensive of, but as I said, once I find i will toss.

Anyway, maybe just for me, but posting it here in case it may be for more than me.

If this is in the wrong place, let me know. I wasn't sure where it was appropriate to put.

 

[DragonFox91]

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to watch sometime. I definitely agree there's things that seem harmless enough that have a deeper spiritual meaning, either in alignment w/ the Lord or not, & most people just shrug if off, & that includes decorations.

 

[Jo555]

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to watch sometime. I definitely agree there's things that seem harmless enough that have a deeper spiritual meaning, either in alignment w/ the Lord or not, & most people just shrug if off, & that includes decorations.

Yes.

And I don't believe we are to live in fear about satan and his horde, but it is useful to know.

Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.

 

[NBB]

I believe this is true.

Objects that were placed curses or were given to the enemy etc on them, can be at homes, and i believe you can go though years with nothing happening, then let's say you get closer to God, and the enemy wants to stop you and you start feeling oppression in your home, or disturbances, spiritual annoyances, attacks or worse.

Christians need to be careful what objects they bring, when someone that apparently is not your friend much, or you suspect is not sincere, give you gifts.

 

[timewerx]

Billy Graham forgets one idol that gets the vast majority of Christians:

Pictures of loved ones displayed at home. It's probably idolatry of close family members like children, parents, grand children.

Maybe it's just me but I get a feeling of dread whenever I think of having pictures of loved ones at home. We used to have them but when we moved, we no longer displayed our pictures and put them away.

I think the same can be said about displaying trophies and other objects of achievement. Either ours or from our loved ones, especially our children/grandchildren. It could easily turn into idolatry. We have quite a few in the family but I felt the same thing about them and no longer displayed them and put them away.

I never idolized the few awards I had. In fact, I feel I didn't deserve them because I'm convinced others have done a better job than I did but for some unexplained reason, I won the award. I even put my trophies somewhere not noticeable but eventually, I felt strongly to put them away.

 

[Jo555]

Hi Timewerx.

Great that you mentioned as that may be a case of, what may be idolatry for one, may not be for the other.

We all must hear his voice in our lives and obey out of love.

As scriptures say, even if it isn't wrong of itself, if you believe it to be wrong and do it anyway, that is wrong for you.

Thank you.

 

[ozso]

Billy Graham forgets one idol that gets the vast majority of Christians:

Pictures of loved ones displayed at home. It's probably idolatry of close family members like children, parents, grand children.

Maybe it's just me but I get a feeling of dread whenever I think of having pictures of loved ones at home. We used to have them but when we moved, we no longer displayed our pictures and put them away.

I think the same can be said about displaying trophies and other objects of achievement. Either ours or from our loved ones, especially our children/grandchildren. It could easily turn into idolatry. We have quite a few in the family but I felt the same thing about them and no longer displayed them and put them away.

I never idolized the few awards I had. In fact, I feel I didn't deserve them because I'm convinced others have done a better job than I did but for some unexplained reason, I won the award. I even put my trophies somewhere not noticeable but eventually, I felt strongly to put them away.

He didn't forget, he just wasn't as extreme as you are.

 

[Jo555]

I believe this is true.

Objects that were placed curses or were given to the enemy etc on them, can be at homes, and i believe you can go though years with nothing happening, then let's say you get closer to God, and the enemy wants to stop you and you start feeling oppression in your home, or disturbances, spiritual annoyances, attacks or worse.

Christians need to be careful what objects they bring, when someone that apparently is not your friend much, or you suspect is not sincere, give you gifts.

When I was a kid my brother used to date a girl that her parents were spiritualists and had a shop. In ignorance, my parents purchased a couple statues. Things started happening, knocks on the door at night and no one there; something trying to pull you out of bed.

So anyway, this Jehovah Witness started to come around. Pa told him what was happening and he started pointing at the statues and said, "Get rid of it."

We did and that was the end of that.

 

[Jo555]

He didn't forget, he just wasn't as extreme as you are.

Timewerx has some challenges that may make these things challenging for him, or her. But as scriptures say, if you feel it is wrong, then it is wrong for you. It's also possible he may idolize them, but probably not the case with all.

 

[ozso]

Timewerx has some challenges that may make these things challenging for him, or her. But as scriptures say, if you feel it is wrong, then it is wrong for you. It's also possible he may idolize them, but probably not the case with all.

I here you and agree. But at the same time it should be clear that that's personal druthers, rather than something Graham should have included and applied to everyone.

 

[timewerx]

Timewerx has some challenges that may make these things challenging for him, or her. But as scriptures say, if you feel it is wrong, then it is wrong for you. It's also possible he may idolize them, but probably not the case with all.

I'm definitely not idolizing our family pictures nor my awards because it was easy for me to put them away when I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to put them away.

I am more likely to idolize things in our house that is regarded as absolute necessity like the computer because I needed them for work and other things. I don't bow down at them but if someone asks me to put them away, I'd resist for sure.

The Lord have asked me of even more difficult things like leaving home, leaving everything behind. I refused. Surprisingly, the Lord did not abandon me, He'll be patiently waiting for me. For now, I'm preparing myself spiritually, mentally, and physically for that day and just fortunate, the Lord is guiding me to prepare.

Anyway, back on topic: Another thing Billy Graham did not mention are toys or "collectibles" or hobby items many adults like to display on their house or their office space.

 

[Jo555]

I'm definitely not idolizing our family pictures nor my awards because it was easy for me to put them away when I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to put them away.

I am more likely to idolize things in our house that is regarded as absolute necessity like the computer because I needed them for work and other things. I don't bow down at them but if someone asks me to put them away, I'd resist for sure.

The Lord have asked me of even more difficult things like leaving home, leaving everything behind. I refused. Surprisingly, the Lord did not abandon me, He'll be patiently waiting for me. For now, I'm preparing myself spiritually, mentally, and physically for that day and just fortunate, the Lord is guiding me to prepare.

Anyway, back on topic: Another thing Billy Graham did not mention are toys or "collectibles" or hobby items many adults like to display on their house or their office space.

I would imagine online time would be a challenge for others. I question the time I spend online, but I'm also trying to discern what He is showing me and how much in hands involvement he would asked of me.

I don't know how to do things half way. I'm generally either all in or out, and I try not to partake of the knowledge of good and evil, so I generally just go with it and stay sensitive to what He may show me in that dept.

 

[timewerx]

I would imagine online time would be a challenge for others. I question the time I spend online, but I'm also trying to discern what He is showing me and how much in hands involvement he would asked of me.

I don't know how to do things half way. I'm generally either all in or out, and I try not to partake of the knowledge of good and evil, so I generally just go with it and stay sensitive to what He may show me in that dept.

Online time for many people.

Several year ago, it was video games for me. I had great difficulty cutting back the hours I spent on it but the Holy Spirit's conviction kept growing stronger and stronger until I'm no longer able to resist it.

 

[DragonFox91]

Good additional insight Jo. For those of us who are much more concerned w/ how we shall interact w/ the ways of the world: The 'shall we eat food sacrificed to idols' part is often discussed in these topics. There's another part in 1 Timothy that reiterates God created good. We need to be careful we don't become Gnostic & reject the creation. We also need to be careful of superstition.

Billy Graham forgets one idol that gets the vast majority of Christians:

Pictures of loved ones displayed at home. It's probably idolatry of close family members like children, parents, grand children.

Maybe it's just me but I get a feeling of dread whenever I think of having pictures of loved ones at home. We used to have them but when we moved, we no longer displayed our pictures and put them away.

I think the same can be said about displaying trophies and other objects of achievement. Either ours or from our loved ones, especially our children/grandchildren. It could easily turn into idolatry. We have quite a few in the family but I felt the same thing about them and no longer displayed them and put them away.

I never idolized the few awards I had. In fact, I feel I didn't deserve them because I'm convinced others have done a better job than I did but for some unexplained reason, I won the award. I even put my trophies somewhere not noticeable but eventually, I felt strongly to put them away.

I think this this too about pictures. When it's all over the house or wall, definitely. My judgement is it's okay having one or two up.

I here you and agree. But at the same time it should be clear that that's personal druthers, rather than something Graham should have included and applied to everyone.

Be wary: "that part doesn't apply to me"can lead to danger............

 

[timewerx]

Good additional insight Jo. For those of us who are much more concerned w/ how we shall interact w/ the ways of the world: The 'shall we eat food sacrificed to idols' part is often discussed in these topics. There's another part in 1 Timothy that reiterates God created good. We need to be careful we don't become Gnostic & reject the creation. We also need to be careful of superstition.

Billy Graham's sermon seems to interpret Paul's teaching on 1 Corinthians 8 differently.

"Food sacrificed to idols" can easily be replaced by plain idols or statuettes of other religions in Paul's teaching, both have no business being in our homes or our bellies even if we regard them as powerless or of very little value if according to Billy Graham.

I have no clear answer for that one. No big deal anyway since it's incredibly easy to avoid eating food sacrificed to idols in the 21st century. Incredibly easy to avoid having literal idols in the house too .

I think this this too about pictures. When it's all over the house or wall, definitely. My judgement is it's okay having one or two up.

The dread that I feel comes from the worry that God may get jealous. A few pictures might be ok.

 

[johansen]

My dad brought home some copper mirrors aka dark mirrors from a jobsite, several of them, as large as 6 foot by 8 foot mirrors. Ended up making some artwork from them, etc. my bothers gf comes over, takes one look at them and says "you know what those are used for right?". -no? -seeing spirits.

Years later when helping my neighbor through some trauma, she had a life changing experience in my folks house and later said a demon left her, through a specific fragment of one of the broken pieces of mirrors. About 3 years later we got married.

There was other stuff in my folks house that always gave me a bad feeling. One of them was a set of miniature wine goblets turned from wood, and a wood wine bottle. Another was a some type of vine, twisted wreath with birth feathers stuffed in it.

Well turns out my wife told me she sensed a spirit behind that wood wine bottle too!.

The house also creaked a lot when i was a child but this was attributed to the upstairs shower expanding and contracting. I suspected it wasnt. Ended up praying about it years later, a few more years later my youngest brother noticed the house didnt creak as much.

A certain woman has public testimony of converting to wicca from the christianity taught in my childhood church. She mentioned the house would creak at night and then her blankets would get warm when she imagined the goddess was with her.

My brother read the account and laughed out loud and said "i know that deception" "the house would creak at night when i was a child and the blankets would get warm". -they didnt for me.

So anyhow, my brother and i have been in our non christian neighbors house .... We both felt their house was spiritually cleaner!



Tldr .. dont be paranoid but when two christians sense the exact same thing ..take it seriously..

 

[Jo555]

I here you and agree. But at the same time it should be clear that that's personal druthers, rather than something Graham should have included and applied to everyone.

Agreed.

 

[Jo555]

When I was a kid my brother used to date a girl that her parents were spiritualists and had a shop. In ignorance, my parents purchased a couple statues. Things started happening, knocks on the door at night and no one there; something trying to pull you out of bed.

So anyway, this Jehovah Witness started to come around. Pa told him what was happening and he started pointing at the statues and said, "Get rid of it."

We did and that was the end of that.

I should add that they told my parents to leave them overnight so they could bless them and they were sold as an object that would bring blessings. And they use God in their mouths, but it actually was idolatry.

That Jehovah Witness knew right away when my father told him what was going on. He even told my father he suspected something was going on. He pointed to them and said, "Get rid of it."

My father and brothers smashed them in the street and got rid of them. That did it.

 

[Jo555]

My dad brought home some copper mirrors aka dark mirrors from a jobsite, several of them, as large as 6 foot by 8 foot mirrors. Ended up making some artwork from them, etc. my bothers gf comes over, takes one look at them and says "you know what those are used for right?". -no? -seeing spirits.

Years later when helping my neighbor through some trauma, she had a life changing experience in my folks house and later said a demon left her, through a specific fragment of one of the broken pieces of mirrors. About 3 years later we got married.

There was other stuff in my folks house that always gave me a bad feeling. One of them was a set of miniature wine goblets turned from wood, and a wood wine bottle. Another was a some type of vine, twisted wreath with birth feathers stuffed in it.

Well turns out my wife told me she sensed a spirit behind that wood wine bottle too!.

The house also creaked a lot when i was a child but this was attributed to the upstairs shower expanding and contracting. I suspected it wasnt. Ended up praying about it years later, a few more years later my youngest brother noticed the house didnt creak as much.

A certain woman has public testimony of converting to wicca from the christianity taught in my childhood church. She mentioned the house would creak at night and then her blankets would get warm when she imagined the goddess was with her.

My brother read the account and laughed out loud and said "i know that deception" "the house would creak at night when i was a child and the blankets would get warm". -they didnt for me.

So anyhow, my brother and i have been in our non christian neighbors house .... We both felt their house was spiritually cleaner!



Tldr .. dont be paranoid but when two christians sense the exact same thing ..take it seriously..

Sometimes you discern things by the Spirit that may not make sense to others.

 

[Jo555]

I found it very interesting too when he spoke of name it and claim it without considering the will of God and such.

We do know He has made promises to us and we can stand on those promises, but even then I believe we can put more faith in our own ability to believe instead of God empowering us there.

Was in a group once, large group, and remember a vision given to me while there. I was watching a lady from an "above" view. She has her bible, but there was also a witchcraft book, although she didn't know it was witchcraft.

There are religious books that can take the Word of God and teach witchcraft instead of the truth.

I took it in regard to things Graham spoke of in that department.