Assignments from The Enemy Camp
© Selwyn Stevens, Ph.D.; M.C.R.
© Selwyn Stevens, Ph.D.; M.C.R.
Any Christian church or ministry which is growing through effective evangelism and maturity will be targeted by the enemy of our souls, and his agents. I recall a conversation I had with Pastor John Walton (Palmerston North New Life Church, and past-Chair of NZ Pentecostal Churches Assn.). (John is also a member of Jubilee's Advisory board). John told me that they had discovered three witches in their church. The only reason they were uncovered was they were converted to Christ. Praise God for that.
We at Jubilee have had several failed attempts at infiltration by a member of a coven One person, when exposed, admitted they had wrecked over a dozen churches and ministries.
What we have confirmed, and need to warn others about, is how these people infiltrate churches. More often than not, it may be a single woman who has recently moved into a town (we just heard of a male with the same agenda the other week) and seems to have a very good knowledge of the Bible - better than most Christians. Leaders are always desperate for volunteers, especially those which show some initiative and experience. This person is often given a responsible position because they are available.
We plead with Christian leaders, please pause and do some discerning first. Find out about their previous church. Contact the pastor there. Ask the questions. What was the fruit of their ministry? Did any church member complain about what they did or said, if so, what and why? It used to be you couldn't join a church unless you had a letter of introduction from your previous church - a practise sorely needed today.
Let me give some examples of infiltration we have experienced over recent months.
1. Children's Work - where they were able to lay hands on the children for a spiritual impartation not acceptable in a Christian church. I'm not talking about sexual abuse either, although that can happen too. They may promote Harry Potter, Pokemon and other occultism to the children. Children are both teachable, and very trusting.
2. Prayer or Intercessory Groups - the person concerned was made responsible to coordinate the four differently-focused prayer groups in a medium-sized Evangelical church. This person amalgamated them all, confused the focus of the prayer, and effectively deprived this church of its prayer cover. It then experienced major disruption and a split.
3. Finances - We saw this in a church in Canada recently. The infiltrator was put in charge of the finances. For every plan for evangelism, or training congregation members for prayer ministry etc., the excuse used was "we can't afford it". There was sufficient money, but depriving finance killed many of God's plans at the time. The leaders are now much wiser.
4. Individuals With An Agenda - Sometimes they will infiltrate as a person with many problems - even claiming to have come out of witchcraft. They then fill up the pastor's diary with "Counselling Appointments," but there never seems to be a breakthrough, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are just not present. These are the time-wasters to divert your energy from the work of the Lord.
I am not interested in "Witch-hunts" but am called to expose those sworn to see our defeat, and defend the lambs in the flock of God. We serve a big and powerful God. We need discernment and wisdom. We must not be complacent.
Caution! If you suspect a possible infiltrator in your church, go to the Lord in prayer, asking for discernment, and His wisdom to handle things. Seek to convert them first.
Ray Comfort reads Revelations 20:10 to them, explains that is where their boss is going, and asks if they really want to join him? I personally have found this to be a good way to shake them up prior to conversion, or exposing and removing.
Yes, I know what some of you are thinking - "a curse without a cause cannot alight" (Proverbs 26:2), but which of us is truly holy and without sin? God's grace may protect us more than we realise, supported by the faithful prayers of our people.
Churches which are not doing anything effective for the Kingdom of God will not usually be targeted by covens, because they aren't a threat to their boss. If you want to be a threat, start a prayer group focused on real needs, equip and release your people in evangelism, mercy ministries, praying for healing, deliverance, etc. You'll get noticed, so trust the Lord.
I recall speaking in a large Pentecostal church in a major NZ city. The Eldership had asked me to speak on the occult - not a frequently requested topic to preach on. Following the service I met a woman who had been born into a coven where her mother was a witch. She herself had a baby which was intended to be sacrificed on a high night such as Halloween. The problem for the coven was that she became a Christian through some effective evangelism in a high school. Despite her doubts prior to the service about my grasp of the subject, she listened and then confirmed the accuracy of what I had taught. She then told me the church leadership had dismissed her claim that several covens were targeting that church because it was impacting that community. I told her they would seek to engineer a church split, or they would target the senior pastor's marriage. In fact both had occurred during the previous 12 months, confirmed by local mature Christian leaders the week following my visit there.
We at Jubilee have had several failed attempts at infiltration by a member of a coven One person, when exposed, admitted they had wrecked over a dozen churches and ministries.
What we have confirmed, and need to warn others about, is how these people infiltrate churches. More often than not, it may be a single woman who has recently moved into a town (we just heard of a male with the same agenda the other week) and seems to have a very good knowledge of the Bible - better than most Christians. Leaders are always desperate for volunteers, especially those which show some initiative and experience. This person is often given a responsible position because they are available.
We plead with Christian leaders, please pause and do some discerning first. Find out about their previous church. Contact the pastor there. Ask the questions. What was the fruit of their ministry? Did any church member complain about what they did or said, if so, what and why? It used to be you couldn't join a church unless you had a letter of introduction from your previous church - a practise sorely needed today.
Let me give some examples of infiltration we have experienced over recent months.
1. Children's Work - where they were able to lay hands on the children for a spiritual impartation not acceptable in a Christian church. I'm not talking about sexual abuse either, although that can happen too. They may promote Harry Potter, Pokemon and other occultism to the children. Children are both teachable, and very trusting.
2. Prayer or Intercessory Groups - the person concerned was made responsible to coordinate the four differently-focused prayer groups in a medium-sized Evangelical church. This person amalgamated them all, confused the focus of the prayer, and effectively deprived this church of its prayer cover. It then experienced major disruption and a split.
3. Finances - We saw this in a church in Canada recently. The infiltrator was put in charge of the finances. For every plan for evangelism, or training congregation members for prayer ministry etc., the excuse used was "we can't afford it". There was sufficient money, but depriving finance killed many of God's plans at the time. The leaders are now much wiser.
4. Individuals With An Agenda - Sometimes they will infiltrate as a person with many problems - even claiming to have come out of witchcraft. They then fill up the pastor's diary with "Counselling Appointments," but there never seems to be a breakthrough, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are just not present. These are the time-wasters to divert your energy from the work of the Lord.
I am not interested in "Witch-hunts" but am called to expose those sworn to see our defeat, and defend the lambs in the flock of God. We serve a big and powerful God. We need discernment and wisdom. We must not be complacent.
Caution! If you suspect a possible infiltrator in your church, go to the Lord in prayer, asking for discernment, and His wisdom to handle things. Seek to convert them first.
Ray Comfort reads Revelations 20:10 to them, explains that is where their boss is going, and asks if they really want to join him? I personally have found this to be a good way to shake them up prior to conversion, or exposing and removing.
Yes, I know what some of you are thinking - "a curse without a cause cannot alight" (Proverbs 26:2), but which of us is truly holy and without sin? God's grace may protect us more than we realise, supported by the faithful prayers of our people.
Churches which are not doing anything effective for the Kingdom of God will not usually be targeted by covens, because they aren't a threat to their boss. If you want to be a threat, start a prayer group focused on real needs, equip and release your people in evangelism, mercy ministries, praying for healing, deliverance, etc. You'll get noticed, so trust the Lord.
I recall speaking in a large Pentecostal church in a major NZ city. The Eldership had asked me to speak on the occult - not a frequently requested topic to preach on. Following the service I met a woman who had been born into a coven where her mother was a witch. She herself had a baby which was intended to be sacrificed on a high night such as Halloween. The problem for the coven was that she became a Christian through some effective evangelism in a high school. Despite her doubts prior to the service about my grasp of the subject, she listened and then confirmed the accuracy of what I had taught. She then told me the church leadership had dismissed her claim that several covens were targeting that church because it was impacting that community. I told her they would seek to engineer a church split, or they would target the senior pastor's marriage. In fact both had occurred during the previous 12 months, confirmed by local mature Christian leaders the week following my visit there.