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Occultism
Counterfeit Power
by Pastor John Hamel
“…the name of the Lord Jesus was
magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used
curious arts [occultism] brought their books together, and burned them
before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty
thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
(Acts 19:17-20)
My wife and I were once
walking along a Midway on a Fairgrounds in New
England. We passed by a
table where a young woman had a deck of Tarot cards
laid out before her. As people walked by she would ask over and over,
“May I do your tarot reading? Would you like to have your reading
done? Would you like to know your future?” We passed by,
ignoring her offers, although I did look into her eyes. There was no
“life” in them. I could tell she was being oppressed by demonic principalities and powers.
A few yards past her, I
suddenly turned on my heel and returned to her booth. I again looked
in her eyes only this time I did the asking. “Would you like me to
tell you your future?” I asked her. She responded gleefully, “Oh, do
you read Tarot?” “No,” I replied, “but I can tell you your future if
you’d like.” She responded, “Yes, please do.”
Maintaining eye contact
I explained firmly, but kindly, “If you continue to do what you’re doing,
you are going to die and spend Eternity in Hell. You are leading precious people away from Jesus by doing this and God doesn’t appreciate it.”
She snapped back hatefully, “God loves me.” To which I replied, “Yes,
God does love you, Jesus died for you, but He despises
what you’re doing to people. The Bible forbids what you are
doing. If you’ll repent, He’ll forgive you.” She
became flustered, immediately closed her booth down and left. It was
obvious what spirit was
manifesting through her. It sure wasn’t able to withstand the presence of God.
Satan and demon powers
are not cartoon characters. Millions of people are being deceived by
them through occult rituals and practices. Children and young people
are being introduced to demon powers through so-called “harmless” and
“innocent” books, cartoons, movies, board games and computer
software. They’re intrigued by the promises of power -- power in the
spirit realm and power over other human beings. They are clueless to
the fact that Satan’s promises of power are a sham. Little do they realize
that by submitting to these practices in search of power, they are actually
yielding themselves over to Satan’s control and power! His ultimate
plan is to destroy them in order to break the Heart of God. (John
10:10)
There is no true power
or authority except that which comes from Jesus.
“And Jesus came …
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
(Matthew 28:18)
All power and authority
is in His Name and His Blood only. Jesus alone has power
over Satan, demon powers and the occult. I firmly and respectfully
tell occult practitioners everywhere we go, “My God made your god.” (Ezekiel 28:15)
Jesus alone has
power to wipe away your past. (Colossians 3:3)
Power to make you a New Creation.
(2Corinthians 5:17)
Power to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Power to heal your body. (1Peter 2:24)
Power to meet your financial
needs. (Philippians 4:19) Power to solve any problem.
(1Corinthians 10:13)
Say, “Jesus, You’re my
choice. No more counterfeits for me. I
renounce them all, in Jesus’ Name. I receive real Power, the Power of
the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 10:13)
Now get under a Pastor who believes what you just
read. This will keep your former fallen condition from becoming seven
times worse than it was originally. (Matthew 12:43-45)
Were you already a
Believer in Christ before reading this? Have you been seeking
guidance by reading your horoscope on line or in the newspaper? Have
you been consulting palm and tarot card readers and other such demonic
forms of guidance? God is calling you to repentance. God
commands that His children come to Him and Him alone for all their guidance needs. (Deuteronomy
18:14; Romans 8:14-16)
If you have been having
difficulty getting your prayers answered, horoscope reading is one of the
primary reasons why. If you’ve been seeking the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and have been
unable to receive, check up on yourself in this area. I have found
this to be possibly the greatest hindrance to receiving the Baptism as I
pray for people in my services. Time and time again while laying
hands on people, the Holy Spirit has said to me, “Ask them if they read
their horoscope.” Whenever I ask, they always say, “Yes,”
shamefully. When they ask God to forgive them, they almost always
immediately receive the Holy Spirit baptism.
It’s amazing how many
Believers are being hindered in their faith walk because they’re seeking
counterfeit forms of power and guidance. So many have told me, “I
just do it for fun.” To which I say, “What’s so fun about being cursed? You have to turn your back on
God to read your horoscope.” Personally, my wife and I are so
committed to seeking guidance from Creator God alone,
we won’t even read fortune cookies. Somebody said, “That’s pretty far
out, Pastor.” To which I say, “Yes, it is and you better get as far
out here as you can, too, if you want to walk with God, live a long life
and have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
Horoscopes are nothing
more than horror scopes.
Why settle for
COUNTERFEIT POWER and COUNTERFEIT GUIDANCE that will always backfire when
you can have REAL POWER and REAL GUIDANCE that will always satisfy?
Be blessed … John and
Barbara Hamel
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