As a follower of Yeshua myself, my whole life is committed to living in and through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is a mystery in and of itself. I have known some in search of this mysterious power to seek New Age spirituality to experience this power and attempt to connect with Jesus and other spirits to their own demise.
Living in Bozeman, MT, I am near the origins of the New Age Church with the Church Universal Triumphant (CUT) having started in just the next valley over in Paradise Valley, MT. My roommate had a bipolar episode that I believe was in large caused by many of the ideas and evil power that made its way into his life through channeling unknown spirits at CUT. It was really sad to watch the evil overtake him with little I could do to convince him that the spirits he was listening to were not the spirit of Jesus; they were not the Holy Spirit. The last I heard of him, he had robbed a local gas station and is in jail awaiting trial. I had to learn that last part via the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, our local newspaper.
All of this being said, I wish to warn you that not all spirits are the spirit of God! I had a similar incident very early on in my faith in Jesus. I passed by a few Mormon missionaries who I stopped and talked to. Before I could hardly get a word in, they were reading a verse from the Book of Mormon over me. I felt a hand reach up inside my heart to take hold of me. I tried to speak, but it had taken hold of my throat as well. I was pinned in place by the spirit that was coming out of this missionary and his words. I felt there was nothing I could do. I was terrified. Just then, one of my sister’s in Christ brushed a loving hand along my lower back and the Holy Spirit released me from the power of this Mormon spirit. I immediately turned 180 degrees towards a bathroom and began to dry heave vomit from the whole experience. I believe I had experienced what many Mormons have reflected on and related to as the moment they saw the power of this spirit and converted to Mormonism. Fortunately, I did not succumb to the power, which felt more like getting raped, than experiencing the loving and gentle power of the Holy Spirit. God has never forced His power on me, though I know it to be the greatest power in all the universe. I share this experience with you that you may not fall into the same trap that I did so many years ago in 2009. I have since then recovered, but I have been fighting the Mormon spirit and many other spirits brought in by the New Age Church ever since. The battle rages on but Yeshua has won my heart through His humility and through His love. The Holy Spirit only reigns through faith in Him. All these other spirits show off their power and pridefully show themselves to be children of Satan himself.
I say this to warn you. Not all spirits, no matter how powerful they seem…not all spirits are the Spirit of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is gentle and humble at heart. If a spirit in your life is not acting with the same love and gentleness that Jesus did walking the earth, then rebuke it the way Jesus rebuked unclean spirits!! Brothers and sisters, do not be fooled, this is all out spiritual war! This is not fun; this is not friendly; this is as horrifying and real as the bloody battles we see of war here on earth. In this war, souls will be won and lost. Rise up and stand for the Holy Spirit!! The enemy is at bay; we must not give the enemy an inch or he will take a mile. We must rebuke the enemy at his first advance. And be assured that every spirit will bow to the name of Yeshua. Be strong, use the Holy Spirit not just as comfort, but also as a sword against the evil one.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…
…And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” ~Ephesians 6:10-11,17 NKJV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” ~Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
Peace and many blessings in Yeshua,
Ryan
Ryan Bowser 