LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 26
Jeremiah 14:13-16
1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“Remember the Lord’s Day
to keep it holy.”

FAITH HEALING TODAY (IV)
(quoting Prof Wright, Sword and Trowel, 1987, No. 1)

We continue with the five doctors’ eyewitness account of John Wimber’s healing meeting at St George’s church, Leeds, in 1986:

“The volunteers were then put into trance while hands were laid on them. They were not unconscious and would, we were assured, hear what was said to them. They remained thus for many minutes with assorted shakings, tremblings, smilings, fallings, swayings and utterings. Their various features were then exhibited to the congregation. We were assured that the smile here and the posture there were clearly visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had descended.

Throughout the building other individuals proceeded to fall into trance. The audience was told that the Holy Spirit might lead some persons to scream or to breathe very deeply. As one expected from hypnotic states these things happened more or less at once. Uncontrollable laughter, crying, groaning, shrieking and sobbing, together with the murmurings of many who wished to minister some spiritual comfort to the affected brethren… Amplified voices of team members came through, ‘It is increasing everywhere. Give us more, Lord. Break that bondage. Release their hearts. Set them free. Relax.’”

Now the crucial question: what really was happening? Had the Holy Spirit descended? Or what?

All the five doctors, one of whom is a leading psychiatrist in England, came to one diagnosis: HYPNOSIS – “a very expert performance containing all the textbook characteristics of the induction of hypnosis.” Hypnosis is not of the Holy Spirit. It is a man-made technique and if misused can be exploited as a tool of the devil. It is a powerful psychological weapon.

THOUGHT: Satan comes as an angel of light.
PRAYER: Lord, teach us to discern light from darkness.