When there are two worlds moving in vastly opposite directions there will be controversy. We have all been made aware of the "
watch woman" of the great northern state of Alaska, Vice Presidental hopeful,
Governor Sarah Palin.
I wish to stop for a minute to affirm that this blog is not about the choice of political candidates this November. Although I have discussed problems associated with Senator
Barack Obama's candidacy, I will not render equal time to Senator John McCain because I believe the problems he poses are far too many to innumerate at the moment.
I will say however that he (Senator McCain) should be ashamed for taking what I feel is a good and sincere woman and attempting to use her as a pawn for votes. With that said, I'll get to the point of my article.
The firestorm began when
MSNBC TV host/commentator or whatever he claims to be,
Keith (Dry Bag-O-Bones)Olbermann decided to "expose
the truth" about Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah
Palin. In his TV "expose" he suggested that Mrs.
Palin was a religious fanatic because she had been blessed by and was excited about a Pastor from Kenya, Africa named
Bishop Thomas Muthee.
“We prayed, we fasted, the Lord showed us a spirit of witchcraft resting over the place,” ~ Bishop Thomas Muthee
Under normal circumstances, there would be no problem with any of this as we have noticed consistent religious questioning and supposed revelations on both sides of these campaigns from beginning until now. However, in this case Bishop Murthee, outlined in detail his spiritual views and biblical interpretations regarding his actions within his community.
In summary, the Bishop claimed that in 1989 God led he and his late wife to the town of
Kiambu, Kenya where he founded
Word Of Faith Church also called The Prayer Cave to address the spiritual cause of mysterious deaths that were
occurring. God responded by leading him to a woman called "Mama Jane" and revealed that she was a "witch" divining and controlling the city with her craft. Mama Jane ran a center called the Emmanuel Clinic and made her profit by fortune-telling. He testified that he asked "Mama Jane" to quit her craft and repent to no avail. He then went back to his church continuing in fasting and prayer and verbalized that they as a church were in spiritual warfare against the principality of evil, and "Mama Jane" was the primary instrument that was being used of the devil. In fact the Bishop offered scripture as a foundation and basis for addressing the issue:
Ephes. 6:12 ~ "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ultimately the church undertook round-the-clock prayer and intercession in the basement of a grocery store and "eventually", says the pastor, “the demonic influence – the ‘principality’ over Kiambu –was broken”, and Mama Jane fled the town.
Now, of course, this is way too much for the uninitiated and the unregenerate to digest. In fact most scriptural fundamentalists shy away from the thought that God will "speak" and give instructions according to HIS spiritual leading and that we actually ARE in war with spiritual and unseen forces and powers. The antisupernaturalist and metaphysical naturalist "supposedly" only believe what they can see and measure through scientific methodology. These events however, have made Governor Palin suspect in the minds of the naturalist and theistic fundamentalist and guilty of spiritual delusion by association. What association?
Well, it just so happens that Bishop Murthee gave about 10 sermons at governor Palin's church. At The Wasilla Assembly of God on June 8 this year, Mrs Palin described how Bishop Thomas Muthee had laid his hands on her when he visited the church as a guest preacher in late 2005, prior to her successful gubernatorial bid. He prayed for her finances and her success in obtaining the position and she was encouraged to proceed against the odds and won.
The problem is that because the Bishop is not ashamed of the bible and its message he has suffered at the hands of critics. Sarah Palin, no doubt at the pressure of political advisers, has disassociated herself from her church and claimed up regarding bishop Murthee. What is astounding is that many of the critics also claim salvation. One thing is certain, most if not all of the critics don't know about spiritual warfare in countries similar to Africa. Bill Donohue said,
"Witchcraft is a sad reality in many parts of Africa, resulting in scores of deaths in Kenya over the past two decades. Bishop Muthee’s blessing, then, was simply a reflection of his cultural understanding of evil. While others are not obliged to accept his interpretation, all can be expected to respect it. More than that—Muthee should be hailed for asking God to shield Palin from harmful forces, however they may be manifested. And for this he is mocked and Palin ridiculed?"..."We know that many cultural elites have a hard time embracing religion, but is it too much to ask that they at least show some manners when discussing subjects which most Americans hold dear?”~
Bill Donohue The Catholic League Secondly, too many individuals, Christian and non-Christian, don't have a clue as to what the bible teaches about witches, diviners and mediums:
Deut. 18:9-14 ~ "9-When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10-There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11-Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12-For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13-Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14-For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do."
Third, there are individuals and groups that operate in principalities that rule and govern certain areas and communities many claiming to have communion with Christ. Isaiah speaks against those that use the WORD of God as a validation for their evil practices:
Isa. 8:19-20 ~ "19-And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20-To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
I have my own personal experience in addressing the Principalities that exist in certain
communities.
(Pastor H. Burnett of New Bethel COGIC & Pastor Bob Randle of Higher Dimensions Worship Ctr. pictured)
In 2007 in the City of Peoria, Illinois the murder rate was on pace to set a city record. per capita, the rate was higher than the much larger city Chicago and the year was not half way over. The Lord instructed me to organize a community march and rally against violence with one exception that was different than any other effort taking place. I was to gather the Pastoral community and ask them to lead the community in this march and rally and in prayer representing taking the lead in spiritual warfare.
The week of June 25th 2007 there were 3 murders in the city. That Saturday June 30th, Christians from all over the city met at 8:30 AM in front of City Hall. The Mayor, City Councilpersons, and other city administrators were present voluntarily. Before we marched, we had prayer and scripture reading and I made certain declarations and proclaimations as follows:
We declared the Liberty and freedom from the oppression of the spiritual power that was endangering our children and causing fear within the community.
We declared that the power of the enemy displayed through crime and violence would be brought under subjection and stamped out.
we declared that the Christian community would gain strength, and rise to combat the enemy
We declared that we would march as representative to taking back our community from the hands of the devil himself.
I read this scripture: James 5:16 ~ "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
I was in recognition that we were dealing with a principality that wanted to destroy our community. Even though no single individual was responsible for the problems, we looked beyone the natural to see what we were dealing with spiritually. We addressed the problem directly. I still believe in pulling down and destroying "strong holds" Our event led to other events some of which which we sponsored. Additionally the city gathered themselves in prayer vigils throughout the community culminating in a 40 days of prayer celebration led by various churches and groups. Those prayer meetings yet continue to this day.
Result:
To THIS DAY, there has never been another week like the week of June 25th 2007 in Peoria, IL. In fact, crime in most categories is more that 60% LESS than it was last year. The murder rate has decreased by 75% and is not even potentially what it was previously.
What happened? To the skeptic, it's all coincidental. However to those of us who know better and have open eyes to the battle that we really fight, we dealt with and gained the victory over a principality, power and spiritual wickedness that tried to choke out our community. Plain and simple. To the religious critic I simply ask who's side are you really on? To criticize an individual for applying the bible and biblical instruction to an area where obvious spiritual warfare is essential is similar to a Sadducee in Jerusalem on the Passover---You just refuse to participate...But I ask this:
Exodus32:26 ~ "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him"
I gladly clash with the culture to be on the Lord's side. The secular critic can criticize all he or she wants but the proof is in the metheod, which is the WORD, the events which destroy yokes off of the lives of the people and the results, which change communities, families and restores hope. All the natural programs in the world won't change the heart of an individual, only God can do that, and he does it by the power of HIS Spirit. Jesus is Lord!
Blessed!
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"I am not willing to have the state deny American citizens a civil union that confers equivalent rights on such basic matters as hospital visitation or health insurance coverage simply because the people they love are of the same sex – nor am I willing to accept a reading of the Bible that considers an obscure line in Romans to be more defining of Christianity than the sermon on the mount." ~ Sen. Barack H. Obama
