From The President's Desk...
Dear Partners In Ministry,
Are you concerned about the continued rise of the occult?
You should be if you are obeying the command of the Holy Spirit
to all Christians found in Philippians 3:17 "Join with
others in following my example, brothers, and take note of
those who live according to the pattern we gave you."
(NIV) Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NASV95) Paul was distressed to see the
idols he encountered in the Greek city of Athens. we read
of this in Acts 17:6: "While Paul was waiting for them
in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city
was full of idols." (NIV) If we are going to follow Paul's
example in obedience to God we mustn't turn off our emotions
in this regard. we can't tell God its bad for our blood pressure
so we just can't care!
"A Potpourri Of Occult Events"
I am more concerned than ever about the occult given the
nature of the calls we have had since the start of the year!
It is very disturbing when the occult continues to spill over
into the public arena of this once predominately Christian
nation. Occultism is all around us whether its psychics on
TV, the demonic nature of occult toys and programs such as
Pokemon and Xena or the occultism glorified in the Harry Potter
books. All are signs that the spirit of the anti-Christ is
alive and well in our culture. Occult comes from the Latin
"occultus" and simply means "that which is
hidden." A key scripture regarding the occult is Deuteronomy
29:29 which says "The secret things belong to the LORD
our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons
forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."
The Bible is what has been revealed for us through God's
prophets, apostles, and His Son. It has been confirmed through
fulfilled prophecy as being a genuine supernatural source
of information. Because it reveals the existence of malevolent
invisible spirit beings (demonia) who are bent on deception
and murder (see John 8:44) we are wise if we seek no other
source for spiritual guidance.
The Potentially Possessed Prom?
The secular prom committee in Stockton, IL have determined
it is a wise thing to pay $1,200.00 to a hypnotist for him
to be the entertainment at the senior prom this year. Also
invited is a palm reader. They cite the fact that other surrounding
towns and villages have done the same in the past.
Pastor Jeff Baer of Calvary United Methodist asked me to
address the issue of hypnosis and palmistry at an interdenominational
meeting at his church. I was asked to do this because my dad
was a hypnotherapist and I am able to cover Scriptural concerns
as well.
Palm reading is a form of divination. Divination is forbidden
in Deuteronomy 18:9-21 and is poignantly denounced by Isaiah
the prophet. "When they say to you, "Consult the
mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter," should
not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead
on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony!
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because
they have no dawn." Isaiah 8:19 (NASV95).
Are You Afraid Of Satan Or His People?
One dear sister in the Lord called us with a truly tragic
story of how her former business associate used to tell her
about her encounters with psychics and how she had never confronted
her about it. She now regrets this as she sees this same "new
age" lady is now spearheading a large occult conference
in her area.
Another Christian called us about that same occult conference
wondering what wisdom we might be able to impart to his group
as far as strategy goes in witnessing for Christ. He also
inquired about the consequences of getting involved in fighting
the devil head on? This is appropriate because we are told
to count the cost before undertaking something. I told him
we are more than conquerors in Christ (see Romans 8:37) but
that there can be consequences and wounds from any battle.
The Apostles were not without them! This is why we are to
put on the whole armor of God (See Ephesians 6:11-13). People
who are in a war need armor! Onward Christian Victims? NO!
Onward Christian soldiers! YES!
Someone once praised our ministry to me but, then in the
same conversation, gave the rather lame excuse that he wasn't
supporting us financially because he didn't want to "draw
Satan's fire." If you are truly a Christian you are already
in the fight whether you like it or not. Satan has you neutralized
and you are already wounded and suffering if you fear him.
Proverbs 28:1 says "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion." In Matthew 10:23-28
Jesus said that if they had mistreated Him they would do so
to us as a servant is not above His master. In this same portion
of scripture He also tells us: they will persecute us but
that we should "not fear those who kill the body but
are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able
to destroy both soul and body in hell." (both NASV95)
Law Student Drugged And Ritually Abused
A precious sister in the Lord called and said that her son
was in his last semester of law school in Chicago and that
he had been recently drugged and subjected to an occult ritual
by his law partner and two women. When she called Mount Carmel
it had been a couple of days and her son was finding it hard
to regain mental focus and clarity. She said he was taken
to a private place, had drugs put into his drink and was then
told through chanting that he was a "zombie now",
that he wouldn't finish law school, and that he would "die
soon! " He was also told not to go to any churches.
At first she told me her son was a "Spirit filled Christian."
She said that the Christian who had referred her to me had
told her to let me know that he was a Christian right away.
I became unsure of that statement as she continued to tell
me he was experiencing a spirit coming over him and was seemingly
possessed of that spirit. He would go in and out of lucidity.
I don't believe that A Christian can be taken over by a demon
as the demon would first have to bind the strong man of the
house in order to have his way. Jesus tells us in Matthew
12:29: "How can anyone enter the strong man's house and
carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man?
And then he will plunder his house" A Christian's house
(body) has another important occupant already sharing his
dwelling. Who? The Lord God Almighty that's Who! "Or
do you not know that your body is a temple (house) of the
Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that
you are not your own?" (1Co 6:19).
Another clue appeared when she told me that her son had spoken
to his "parish priest." I asked what denomination
they were and she said Catholic, but that she was now attending
an Assembly of God church and was born again. It turns out
that her son had been involved in a Roman Catholic series
of retreats held on weekends which had lasted for several
months. These weekends were for the purpose of explaining
their dogmas and the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
I told her that before he could be delivered she must be
sure of what he was trusting in for his salvation. It had
to be the simple Gospel and the finished work of Christ alone
and not his own goodness and certainly not that which is supposedly
given to him by religion. I also gave her the name of a Christian
friend of mine who is a doctor and told her to have him thoroughly
examined to see if the drugs were out of his system.
She called back in about a week to thank me. She said he
had refused to see a doctor but that my discernment had been
100% correct. She had found out that he had been "trusting
in his own religiosity" and that now he was set free
by simple faith in the finished work of Christ! Praise The
Lord! He was subsequently asked to go to a mass by his father.
When he went into the building he turned around and left saying
he just couldn't do that anymore!
Bahais Debate At Mount Carmel Meeting!
"For if one comes and preaches
another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a
different spirit which you have not received, or a different
gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully."
-2Co 11:4
Four members of the Bahai faith were invited to come and
share and debate at one of our Thursday night meetings. It
was very obvious 90 minutes into the meeting that they were
believers in another Jesus, a different Gospel and had another
spirit.
Their "Jesus" never rose physically from the dead
and returned spiritually to Iran in the 19th century. Around
1844 one of their prophets, Iranian businessman, Syyid Ali
Muhammed (1819-1850), otherwise referred to as "the "Bab"
(which means the Gate" a title that should only belong
to the Biblical Christ) came on the scene as a mystical and
apostate Shiite Muslim teacher.
He was executed in 1850 and then came Mirza Husayn Ali (1817-1892)
otherwise known as Baha'u'llah or "Glory of God"
by the Bahais are the two founding false prophets. The Bahais
made much of the fact that scientific discoveries such as
the telegraph came into being around 1844.
Satan was very busy it seems in 1844. It is interesting to
note that in the same year that the "Jesus" of the
Bahais returned in the form of the "Bab", Joseph
Smith, false prophet and founder of Mormonism, was murdered
in Carthage , Illinois giving impetus to those who would want
to view him as a martyr. Also in 1844 The Millerites, followers
of a William Miller, had their "great disappointment"
because he had expected Jesus to return that year. They went
up on a hill in white robes and nothing happened. Coming home
from that experience, Hiram Edson, a follower of Miller, saw
a vision that told him that Jesus had entered another apartment
of his heavenly temple in order to perform an 'investigative
judgment." This would supposedly determine the worthiness
of believers for eternal life. Ellen G. White, known by Seventh
Day Adventists as the "Sole Interpreter of Scripture"
was influenced by this and from it sprang that group. The
Bahais at our meeting are not alone in looking back to that
year for their spiritual foundations.
The Bahais asserted their foundational belief that all religions
agree at their core and that all mankind are brothers both
physically and spiritually. They repeatedly said that we had
the same God, and I, with perhaps even more vigor, assured
them that we did NOT! They said that to say there are two
mankinds, one in Christ and one in Adam, is the "heresy
of pride." They also believe a person can make it to
heaven based upon their own goodness instead of trusting in
the finished work of Christ on the cross.
At the end of the meeting, true to their belief system, one
of them attempted to hug me in the spirit of us all really
being "one." I refused the hug, shaking his hand
instead, and told him that I reserved my hugs for my spiritual
brothers in Christ. A special (set apart or holy) physical
greeting, reserved for the true family of God, has its roots
in Scripture where we are told to greet one another with a
"holy kiss." (see Ro 16:16;1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12;
and1Th 5:26). These Bahais were certainly not my brothers
in Christ! Pray that any rejection he might have sensed would
dawn on him as being only a foretaste of the rejection he
will experience at the Great White
Throne judgment of God if he doesn't repent and trust the
true Christ! "But even if we, or an angel from heaven,
should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached
to you, he is to be accursed!" -The Apostle Paul in Galatians
1:8 (NASV95)
Blessing Reports:
The Michelangelo Event...
A man that regularly listens to our radio program called
and asked if he could come out and pick up five tape copies
of one particular program. While here I took him out to our
auditorium and showed him all the refurbishing that has gone
on to make it useful for preaching, teaching and worship events.
He saw that we were getting it ready for the painting of the
ceiling and he told me that he was a paint contractor and
would be willing to paint the entire thing for us as a donation
to our ministry! This is wonderful as it will necessitate
painting 3,500 square feet as he measured it.
Website Traffic...
In talking to our Internet service provider in Chicago an
interesting fact emerged. He told us that out of about 250
web sites they operate and maintain we are about 27 in ranking
the amount of people that visit!
Radio Praise!
A man stopped me in a restaurant just to tell me how much
our radio program means to him. He said he plans his entire
Saturday around listening to it! We also have been able to
purchase a recorder that should digitize our still analog
studio signal so it can replace the reel-to-reel recording.
The reels have caused us interfacing problems at WFEN, the
regionally broadcast radio station as we are the last analog
program they air.
Our Daughter Katie Update
Our daughter Katie's recent cancer tests included a blood
test, chest x-ray, and Cat-scan. All show that she is cancer
free but still has a "hole" in her remaining kidney
composed of immature kidney cells or "nephrogenic rests"
that could erupt into cancer. Thus, we are told that she will
need these tests to continue every three months until she
is seven. Please continue praying for her! She is developing
very fast and is a tremendous blessing to watch. They told
us at the hospital that she seems very advanced for her age.
We were watching a program on child development and she fits
a category a full year ahead of her age of 2 1/2 years.
Perspective Underground In Space?
Pray we will be able to broadcast our radio program "Perspective
Underground" via satellite. The Information Radio Network
which has over 250 stations that broadcast their news, has
invited us to have a place on their satellite and their webstreaming
site that has 6,000 people daily going to it. This will cost
$550.00 a month. Pray we will find a sponsor or a number of
sponsors who will be willing to meet this challenge. Being
on satellite allows us to contact virtually every radio station
in the country. All Christian stations are equipped with digital
receivers now. We will also have to start recording digitally
on computer.
Prayer Requests From Those Who Have Contacted Us:
The New Age Conference
Please pray for those affected by a sold out New Age conference
to be held in the Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area
this Spring. Pray that there be an effective and courageous
Christian Witness from the people who called us and that many
would be saved as a result.
Lesbian Daughter
Pray for T. a 21 year old girl from Texas who recently announced
to her Christian Mom that she is a lesbian. She is from a
home broken by divorce when here father left them after being
a pastor and evangelist for many years. There is a history
of "Jesus Only" Pentecostalism in the family and
her mother believes that there is a familial link in the demonic
involvement regarding her daughter's situation.
Voodoo and the Priest
Pray for an Anglican priest from Florida who found a pig's
leg stuck on the hood of his vintage Mercedes he keeps in
his garage. He also found a cleaned bloodless liver on his
front steps. He has a number of people in his congregation
from Jamaica and Haiti so we deduced it was probably a voodoo,
Santeria or Palo Mayombe ritual rather than dabbling Satanists.
Occult Ritual And The Law Student
Pray for a demonically attacked law student in Chicago that
suffered a mental fog for several days after being drugged
and forced to participate in an occult ritual by his law school
partner.
The Occult Prom
Pray for the senior high students of Stockton High School
that are going to be potentially exposed to the occult via
hypnotism and palmistry at their prom.
Bahais' Debated At Mount Carmel
Pray for the salvation of four Bahais who were confronted
and witnessed to by a number of Christians at one of Mount
Carmel Outreach's Thursday night meetings.
Demonized Daughter Of Single Mom
Pray for a single mom who has a young daughter who has gone
into fits/seizures when she comes under the hearing of Scripture
or is in a church setting. The daughter has been given medication
to no avail. Also pray for this Mom as she has had to call
the police on her teenage son when he has been violent enough
to push her down the stairs! She has been betrayed and hurt
by several in Christian leadership in the past but hasn't
lost her faith in Jesus.
Pray For Two "Just Former" Mormons!
A Christian man wishes to help two former Mormons at his
work grow as true Christians. They came out of Mormonism three
months ago.
Pray For Rose
She is a single Mom who was raised Roman Catholic and is
now a Mormon. She said she is thinking of "changing her
religion."
Pray For Two Jehovah's Witnesses that came to our
door.
The one heard things that she seemingly had never heard before.
They still beat a hasty retreat when it was shown that there
was knowledge about what they believed here. Their doctrine
that Jesus is "Michael the Archangel, their view of Christ's
resurrection, their Arian view of the godhead and the definition
of a cult were all addressed.
Freemasonry Still A Problem In Many Christian Circles!
Pray for several Christians including one clergyman who don't
know each other but are currently dealing with Freemasonry
in witnessing situations right now. That Masonry isn't Christian
but occult in nature is still a problem in many churches.
Please Pray For My Sister
Please pray for my sister Carol who lost her 25 year old
son Ian, her only child, three years ago the week before Mothers
Day. She is still dealing with the loss and feels God has
more for her to come to understand.
As she was still dealing with this loss she has suffered
another one. On April 18th her husband of 17 years, Ron Peterson,
died from a heart attack. Pray for God's comfort and strengthening
to be with her.
Carol was delivered out of the occult and has been wonderfully
born again for years with a voracious appetite for spiritual
and scientific study. After Ian's death Carol prayed that
the baby my wife, Julie, was carrying at the time of her son's
death would be a girl and would be born on his birthday. God
graciously caused our daughter Katie to be born on what would
have been Ian's next birthday. She was the first of her cousin's
to be born a girl in 37 years.
Current Brother/Former Satanist Indicted For Homicide
Pray for a dear brother in the Lord who was a drug addict
and practicing Satanist for many years and now comes regularly
to our weekly meetings. He has been indicted for a giving
methadone to a 38 year old man several years ago. The man,
on his own, mixed the methadone with cocaine and alcohol and
consequently died. Now the D. A. in that area wants to prosecute
him for the death of this man. He has been offered a plea
bargain where he pleads guilty but gets probation "because
he has changed his life so drastically." Pray for wisdom
for this brother and against the wiles of the devil.
18 Year Old Boy Has Drastic Personality Change
The nephew of a caller has undergone a radical personality
change since the first of the year. He has shaved his head
and had multiple body piercings and is listening to non-Christian
heavy metal music. This follows his being taken out of the
home of his second step-dad and moving to that of his third.
His mother reads books and articles on serial killers. Pray
for Chris from Green Bay.
Foul Mouthed Internet Teen
This young man from Iowa contacted us randomly on the Internet
and used very foul language making murderous threats of violence.
I witnessed to him and quoted a number of scriptures. It seemed
to bother him when I told him he was evil and needed Jesus.
He asked me: "Do you really think I'm evil?" I explained
that without Christ we ALL are. He said that he had only heard
what I told him from his "paster".(sic) Please pray
that he accepts Christ.
A Jewish Believer Feels Alone!
A very likable Jewish man the Lord led me to witness to many
years ago has accepted Christ. We have had many obvious times
where Jesus has put us together. The last one was very plain
to both of us. We were pulling in to a restaurant late at
night at the same time. We both thought of providence when
we saw each other.
He asked me about Eckankar. When we first met he was very
enamored of Unity school of Christianity. He also seemed unsure
of whether the Jews in Israel should have the land because
they are still in unbelief. (The answer is found in Ezekiel
chapters 36-39). I gave him Dr. Phillip Moore's book on the
Council of Yavneh's messiah conspiracy that covers the whole
issue. He expressed a desire to meet other Messianic Jews.
He also said "I feel I'm better off with Jesus than without
Him!" That's an understatement of eternal/infinite proportions!
Man Toys With Zen Buddhism
A co-worker of one of our callers has expressed an interest
in Zen Buddhism. The caller is planning on inviting him to
one of our meetings. Pray he comes.
Young Mother and Wife Involved In Judaizing
Pray for a young woman in the Eastern United States. Pray
that she understands that the Law of Moses is not the Law
of Christ. Pray that she firmly understands that her relationship
with God is not a mixture of law and grace and that we are
grafted into the faith and covenant of Abraham and are not
inheritors of the covenant of Moses or needing to follow the
law of Moses in order to please God. She is very bright and
must be given solid Biblically based answers.
Pray for Joel Griffith's Mom
Pray for the mother of Joel Griffith as she is facing major
colon surgery at 78 years of age.
Finally, We Need Your Help!
Pray that more people would decide to become regular monthly
supporters of this ministry. This is vitally important at
this time and crucial to our being able to maintain the ministry.
We are currently in a financially challenging time and need
to hear from you our faithful supporters!
What We Need:
donations for the $550.00 a month needed in order to be on
satellite and back on the Internet with the radio broadcast.
This will put us in the position of being able to nationally
syndicate the program on broadcast airwaves and internationally
webcast again. This would also solve problems we have encountered
with the regional broadcast due to our analog instead of digital
output. The Website we would be on has 6,000 hits a day.
donations for the auditorium. We have roughly $1,000.00 in
our fund for the walls in the two bathrooms; the sink cabinet
needed in one bathroom; the soundbooth/loft and the enclosure
of the kitchenette area. The ceiling is repaired and ready
to be painted and will be painted professionally in June.
Regular monthly support for overhead and to keep our regular
ministry activities such as speaking, radio and counseling
going. we have noticed in 17 years of doing this that the
summer is always a hard time for ministry funding.
Again, thanks so much for standing with us! Our work is your
work!
"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet
shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous
man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous
man's reward." Matthew 10:41
In His Service Gladly,
Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
E-Mail: contender@aol.com
PO Box 5761 Rockford, IL 61125
Phone:815-947-2858
Make Your Support Checks Out To: Mount Carmel Outreach
Mount Carmel Outreach
All donations to The Institute For Christian
Apologetics are
tax-deductible, greatly needed and equally appreciated!
Make your checks out to:
The Institute For Christian Apologetics
Send them to P.O. Box 5761 Rockford, IL 61125
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