Summary: This sermon is about the New Age movement creeping into the mainline denomoninational Churches

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though they were a very large mammal their throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. The teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

The Mole

New Age on the Rampage

Acts 20:27-31 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

2 Cor 11:13-15 (NLT) These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

Cults and cultic practices are rapidly growing in America, robbing millions of people of eternal and abundant life—even earnest, well – intentioned churchgoers.

In every book of the New Testament (except Philemon) speaks to the issues of false religions (new age, occult, Buddhism, etc.) with warning passages and instructions on how we as Christians are to respond. It was a major problem in the early church and still is today

Matt 24:4-5 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Romans 1:18-25

2 Cor 11:3-4 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

2 Tim 4:1-4 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Jude 3-4 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

In a recent letter I was sent said:

It is time for the church to stand together hand in hand with other denominations. Many pastors from the Church of God in Christ, Methodist, Southern Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Pentecostal, and more were wanting us to stand together with Rev Sun Myung Moon as he lead us in this stand in unity

A few things these people forgot to mention about Sun Myung Moon is:

The official title of the Unification Church is The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. It was officially founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon (which has led to the referring of his followers as "Moonies").

Moon claims that in 1936, when he was 16, Jesus Christ appeared to him on a mountainside in Northwestern Korea and told him that God had chosen him for the mission of establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. After World War II, Moon returned to Pyongyang, the capital of communist North Korea, where he set up his first church (1945).

There, according to reports, Moon involved his congregation in an unusual ritual known as "blood separation," during which female members of the church were required to have sex with him to cleanse themselves of Satan’s influence. In 1948, North Korean authorities arrested and jailed Moon (he spent two years in a labor camp), accusing him of bigotry and adultery.

Moon was finally liberated by United Nations’ troops during the Korean War (1950). (Still today, Moon’s sermons focus on sex and the idea of female submissiveness.

1. Source of Authority. The Moonies teach that the Bible is "not the truth itself, but a textbook teaching the truth." Moon’s 536-page spiritual manifesto, Divine Principle (1952), is considered to be their scriptures (supposedly revealed directly to Moon by Jesus Christ), along with the Bible. They also believe in continuing revelation. (Moon claims to have received new revelations from God; i.e., "I spoke with Jesus Christ in the spirit world. And I also spoke with John the Baptist. This is my authority.")

2. The Occult. Moon admits communicating with familiar spirits by means of séances. [It is a well-known fact that Moon has participated in séances conducted by a spirit transmedium named Arthur Ford (a famous Philadelphian necromancer). Ford’s "spirit guide" first spoke of Moon on 11/1/64, again on 3/18/65, and on 4/21/65 (Unknown But Known, p. 121). Moon was present at this last séance and his comments were tape recorded and later transcribed.] Though the Christian ordinances of baptism and communion are avoided by the Unification Church, it readily accepts clairvoyance, automatic handwriting, and mediumistic trances.

3. Jesus Christ. Moonies deny the deity of Jesus Christ; instead they claim He was just a man, not God. ("God is just like you and me. All human traits originate in God." -- Moon, Christianity in Crisis, p. 4; and "He can by no means be God Himself." -- Divine Principle, pp. 210-211). They teach that Jesus was not virgin born, but was the bastard offspring of Zechariah and Mary! They also claim that Jesus failed in His earthly mission (Divine Principle, pp. 143-145), and that Christ’s purpose in coming was to marry and to produce perfect children. However, He was killed before He could fulfill His mission (i.e., "The Cross is the symbol of defeat of Christianity," Moon, 1973). Moonies believe that John the Baptist was responsible for the death of Jesus (by failing to convert his audience into a power bloc for Jesus) (Divine Principle, pp. 156-162), and that Christ’s death on the cross was not an original or essential part of God’s plan of redemption ("... however devout a man of faith may be, he cannot fulfill physical salvation by redemption through Jesus crucifixion alone." -- Divine Principle, p. 148), but that God merely used it to provide an incomplete, spiritual salvation. They do not believe that Jesus was physically resurrected (cf. 1 Cor. 15:12-20), but that He returned as a spirit, and that a "third Adam" must come to fulfill God’s plan for physical salvation by marrying and producing the sinless race. The Unification Church has given titles to Moon that indicate it considers him to be this "third Adam." [HJB]

Quotes by Sun Myung Moon

"God is now throwing Christianity away and is now establishing a new religion, and this new religion is the Unification Church."

"There have been saints, prophets, many religious leaders in past human history. Master here [Moon] is more than any of those people and greater than Jesus himself."

"God and man are one. Man is incarnate God."

As we say in Oklahoma “The proof is in the pudding.”

Is there any body in here that while watching TV a lady by the name of Miss Cleo comes on? You know she has a Caribbean accent comes on a commercial trying to convince you that she can tell your fortune and other peoples fortunes through her magic reading of Tarot Cards.

Example of being a Psychic

Approximately a billion people worldwide have some degree of faith in astrology. Science writer, engineer, and astrology critic Lawrence Jerome has written, "The twentieth century has seen a tremendous upswing in the fortunes of astrologers. Easily one quarter of the nearly four billion people living on the earth believe in and follow astrology to some extent."1

In America, polls variously estimate the acceptance of astrology at between 20 million to 40 million people. A Gallup poll cited by the National and International Religion Report for July 4, 1988, estimated that ten percent of evangelical Christians believe in astrology. Clearly, astrology is not just a passing fad. In the United States alone, it grosses billions of dollars each year.

An examination of the books in print on astrology reveals that this occult art of divination has been applied to literally hundreds of subjects, 12 Many occult practices (e.g., numerology and tarot cards) have logical connections to astrology; many world religions and religious cults have their own brands of astrology (e.g., Hinduism and theosophy). Astrologers have also attempted to integrate many of the sciences (e.g., medicine and psychology) with their practice.

Deut 4:19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars--all the heavenly array--do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven

New Age

New Age is an old adage. Like medieval metaphysicians and ancient Eastern mystics, the cult of New Age hails man and his paramount powers as center of the spiritual universe. For centuries, people have endeavored to consecrate themselves and evoke the mysteries of spirituality.

New Agers believe a "Copernican threshold" must be crossed to uncover the mystery of mankind’s relationship to universal spiritual truth. Only then the present confrontational system of differing faiths will be replaced with a worldwide oneness of soul and spirit. Discovering this spiritual symbiosis is the globalistic goal of all New Age religious pilgrimages. Whereas past religions looked outward to the sun, moon, stars, and cosmic forces, those in the New Age who aspire to know hidden truths journey inward to find collective connection with the One Cause.

The New Age search is really a very old examination of occultism’s principles and practices. Reincarnation, astrology, astral projection, soul travel, shamanism, goddess worship, visualization and affirmations of inner deity are not new modes of spirituality. They are ancient ways of claiming to reveal the link between man and God. The term New Age represents this consciousness, as well as the astrological prediction of the end-of-the-century arrival of an era called Aquarian Age.

The same lie that Eve accepted in the beginning is still being told. You shall become like God!

Many of today’s heroes and celebrities mislead our youth and millions of fans as the take off on a supernatural roller coaster looking for some form of Godliness

· Michael Jordan practices Zen Meditation

· Dionne Warwick promotes psychic readings

· X-Beatle George Harrison, Calvin Klein, Elizabeth Taylor, studied under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

· Former President Clinton consulted new age teachers

· Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Kristie Alley, and John Travolta are into the religion of Scientology.

· Oprah has embraced “A course of miracles” an occultic teaching by Marianne Williamson. Oprah made a statement on her show that “She believed that all religions lead to God”

Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

VWC it is time that we make a stand for what Jesus said we should stand for. It is in Jesus that I live and have my being. Not in what somebody’s idea of what the future is suppose to hold.

I tell you this morning I make no apologies for being a blood bought, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled man of God. That will not allow any practice that would demean my relationship with God enter into my house or my children’s lives.

· If any man be in Buddha he is the same person old things never leave you, behold all things remain the same.

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· If any man be in religion he is the same person old things never leave you, behold all things remain the same or get worse.

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· If a man be in quiji he is the same person old things Never leave you, behold he will become full of devils

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· If a man be in astrology he is the same person old things never leave you, behold they will believe anything that comes along.

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· If a man be in humanism he is a fool, behold old things never leave him, he becomes carnal

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· If a man mumble in meditation (HUMMMMMM) he is the same person old things never leave you behold all things remain the same.

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· If a man seek a psychic he is the same person old things never leave you, behold his phone bill becomes new

IF A MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATURE, OLD THINGS PASS AWAY, BEHOLD ALL THINGS BECOME NEW

The Bible makes it clear that there is only one true God (John 17:13) by nature (Gal. 4:8) and that there was no god before Him and there will be none after Him (Isa. 43:10). There is also a vast gulf between humanity and true Deity. For example, God is all knowing (Omniscient) (Matt. 19:26) Mans knowledge is limited (Job 38:1-4)

· God is all powerful (Omnipotent) (Rev. 19:6) Man is weak (Heb. 4:15)

· God is present everywhere (Omnipresent) (Psalm 139: 7-12) Man is limited to one place at a time (John 1:50)

· God is holy (Rev. 4:8) Man is a fallen sinner (Isa. 64:6)

· God is eternal with no beginning or end Man is a created being who came into existence at a point in time

· God is truth (John 14:6) Man has a deceitful heart (Jer. 17:9)

· God is characterised by justice (Acts 17:31) Man is lawless (1 John 3:4 cf. Rom. 3:23)

· God is love (1 John 4:16) Man is in bondage to many vices like jealousy and strife (1 Cor. 3:3)

The Occult and new age is reaching our children. We have let the devil into our homes and into our children’s lives. We are not even aware of how our children are being deceived by a New age influence a cover up for the Occult.

Any body in here ever heard of Harry Potter? Let me read to you some of the things that are detailed in these children books.

This is the description given on the OK UK Books web site for the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

"Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house. Little does he know that his life is to change irrevocably when he is rescued by an owl and taken to Hogwort’s school of Wizardry and Witchcraft, learns about his parents’ mysterious death and comes face to face with the evil Voldemort in a deadly duel. . ."

Here is another description, this time from Newsweek.

"Firmly in the eccentric tradition of the English children’s story, Harry, like Peter Pan and Mary Poppins, can fly. Like Tolkien’s Bilbo Baggins, he is surrounded by fantastical creatures. His boarding school is full of dotty profs and snobby brats, but it is also a world where owls deliver the mail and instead of chemistry and gym they study potions and transfiguration." Malcolm Jones, "Magician for Millions" Newsweek August 13, 1999

Among the terrifying images in books two and three were: a disembodied voice repeatedly hissing "kill"; monstrous, flesh-eating spiders; children being attacked and paralyzed; and an apparently dead cat hung upside down by its tail (USA Today, June 15, 2000).

In book four of the series (Goblet of Fire) the evil character named "Wormtail" cuts up Harry’s arm to extract blood in order to bring "Voldemort" (the most evil character) back to life. (This is an occult practice done to supposedly pass mystic power from one person to another during some occult rituals.) Rowling called Voldemort a "raging psychopath, devoid of the normal human responses to other people’s suffering . . ." (Entertainment Weekly, #554, August 11, 2000). Also in the latest epic, Harry’s parents, who have been killed, have to be extracted from Voldemort’s magic wand. What kind of books are these and what inspires Rowling’s work? We believe we know. She said, "It’s important to remember that we all have magic inside us . . ." during an interview being taped for a "Scholastic Book Fair" video. And when asked in an August 2000 Entertainment Weekly interview by writer Jeff Jensen if she felt any sense of social responsibility (for the dark nature of the content of Harry Potter) Rowling answered, "I cannot write to please other people." She then goes on to mention that parents are coming to her saying their six year-old "loved her book"! Perhaps a more important question is, what kind of parents are these?

Is J. K. Rowling a real, practicing, bona fide witch? Our research turned up no overt statement she has made to make us believe so. However, when Ms. Rowling was asked about her favorite holiday, it was Halloween. We realize that many people who are not occultists might respond this way, but we figured her answer wasn’t going to be Valentine’s Day! What makes us explore this possibility further is just the occult accuracy of the texts. She has also intimated that some of the scenes in the books were fashioned out of real life experiences she’s had. While from the materials and interviews we researched Rowling only named some railroad scenes portrayed in her writings as something actually from her childhood. However, it’s not a huge leap to believe that the occult crux of the Harry Potter story could be from personal experience as well.

Whether Rowling herself is a witch or avid New Age dabbler, it is obvious that no one is really trying to veil the tie between the Harry Potter series and the occult, quite the opposite in fact. On the ABC.com web site, there is a page dedicated to Harry Potter information. There, we found a link titled "Divination Class with Professor Susan Miller." The link led unsuspecting kids to famed astrologer Susan Miller’s forecasting page.

Leviticus 19:26,31; “26‘Do not practice divination or sorcery.” “31 ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. [1]”(NIV)