Christendom and Western civilization are entering their final warfare before Armageddon. In these deliberate studies of principalities and powers, we will be exposing the occult, revealing knowledge of the doctrines, words, rites, eulogies, phrases, and definitions that demon worshippers use. The only intelligent way to interpret our times is to present a biblical interpretation. Jesus prophesied that His church shall prevail. In Matthew 16:18, He said, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Today, the church must rise up to the greatest action of its entire history.
Welcome to this series of lectures. Today's lesson is: Haunted Houses and Ghosts.
Lord, we ask that the Holy Spirit open our minds to understand the truth. Help us to set millions of people free from spiritual bondage. In Jesus' name, Amen.
America does not seem to learn from history. If we studied the decline of empires, we would understand what destroys nations. Today, the occult is growing at a faster rate in this country than ever before. Half of the Christian church wears blinders, refusing to acknowledge the spirit realm, while the other half lacks the teaching and courage to confront it.
God does not want His people to be ignorant or fearful. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). We must understand what we are dealing with. For example, houses and buildings can become inhabited by demonic entities, commonly referred to as "haunted houses" and "ghosts."
In Joshua 6:18, God warned the Israelites: "And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed... and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it." Playing with the occult brings a curse not just upon individuals, but upon homes and nations.
Houses and buildings possess a "personality" based on what takes place inside them. When you walk into a casino, you feel a distinctly different atmosphere than when you walk into a church. If you walk into the home of gentle, loving people, you feel peace. If you walk into a home filled with anger and abuse, you feel hostility hitting you right at the door.
In the Old Testament, the Holy of Holies in the temple at Jerusalem was the dwelling place of the true and living God. His Shekinah glory rested there, and anyone who entered knew it was Jehovah's house.
Conversely, heathen temples used for demon worship become dwelling places for demon entities. I have visited thousands of pagan temples around the world, and the oppressive power of the devil is tangible. Just as temples become inhabited, homes where families reside can also become infested by demons if the door is opened to them. Where horrific tragedies or murders occur, evil spirits often linger, and the atmosphere must be cleansed before it is normal again.
I once stayed as a guest in an ancient castle in Switzerland owned by Christian friends. My bedroom was up in the turret of the tower. There was no electricity on the stairs; I had to use a lamp. The stairs squeaked, the heavy doors screeched, and the atmosphere was overwhelmingly dark. Before I went to bed, my elderly hostess told me the tragic history of the castle. It took great courage just to stay in that room. The demonic presence was so thick that the hair on my arms stood up. I spent the entire night rebuking the powers of darkness.
On another occasion, Reverend Howard Carter and I were ministering in Java, Indonesia. We stayed in the beautiful home of a wealthy plantation owner. However, this man was possessed by seven demons. The demons ruled the house. They would not allow his wife to sleep in the same room as him; if she tried, invisible forces would pinch her, leaving deep bruises, and physically throw her to the floor.
The wife showed us the man's "holy cabinet," where he worshipped. Inside hung a silver dagger, suspended by a cord like a pendulum. The man would burn incense and kneel before the dagger, and the demons would manifest. He knew them all by name and claimed they destroyed his enemies. Though he looked like a normal, successful businessman, he was totally given over to the occult. His teenage son even boasted at the dinner table that he was waiting for his father to die so he could inherit the spirits.
That night, as Mr. Carter and I slept, an entity appeared at the foot of our bed and addressed Mr. Carter by name: "Howard, what are you doing in this house?" We were startled, but we immediately pleaded the blood of Jesus Christ and commanded the spirit to leave. It fled the room. Demons can and do reside in houses where they are welcomed.
You do not have to travel to Indonesia to find demonic manifestations. Several years ago, right here in Mishawaka, Indiana, a local newspaper covered a bizarre story. A family was being terrorized by invisible forces throwing bricks and stones against the outside of their house. Inside, heavy appliances like the refrigerator and television were inexplicably moved across the room, and furniture was violently overturned while they were at work. A police officer witnessed the chaos and was nearly fired for admitting he believed it was a poltergeist.
I was invited to investigate. The house was a complete disaster area. I led the couple in a prayer of salvation. Then, I took spiritual authority. I spoke directly to the demonic force, commanding it to stop throwing stones, to leave the furniture alone, and to permanently vacate the premises in the name of Jesus Christ. I placed the house under the protection of the blood of Jesus. We checked back weeks later, and they had not experienced a single manifestation since.
God's power is absolute. You do not have to put up with the devil's harassment. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. The devil might be strong, but Jesus is stronger.
Tragically, many Christians do not know how to fight the devil. I knew a Christian family in England who moved into an older house. The teenage daughter complained that she was terrified of her bedroom, saying there was an evil presence there. The father dismissed her fears, telling her she was imagining things. Shortly after, the healthy young girl mysteriously died in her sleep in that room.
The father then moved his other daughter into the exact same room. She, too, begged to be moved, terrified of the spiritual presence. The father again brushed it off. Tragically, the second daughter also died mysteriously in that room. Panic-stricken, he finally called Reverend Carter, who wisely told him to move out immediately.
If you encounter a demonic presence in a building, you have options. You can leave, or you can clean it out through the authority of Jesus Christ. You can command an exorcism over a house. A satanic force cannot stay where a believer exercises faith and authority. You can simply declare, "I command you to leave this place by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are evicted."
Do not step into spiritual warfare lightly or unprepared. Jesus said some spiritual battles require prayer and fasting. Ensure your own heart is right with God. When I engage in spiritual combat, I fast, pray, and focus my entire being on the victory of Jesus. I have never failed to win.
We are God's spiritual cleanup crew. Walk in the power of God, speak the Word with authority, and set the captives free!