In a recent installment of Charisma magazine’s insightful “Beyond the Article” series, Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church delves into a pressing question: Are people desperate for the Holy Spirit?

Throughout the interview, Pastor Locke illuminates a critical concern within the American church, underscoring the necessity for a profound grasp of the gospel and the authentic transformative influence wielded by the Holy Spirit.

Half-Truths and Incomplete Healing

Locke begins by highlighting a common problem found in the prophets of old, where the priests and prophets only shared half the truth. The danger, as Locke sees it, is that the American church tends to give people just enough Jesus without bringing about real freedom, deliverance or healing. The focus on motivational and pop psychology sermons falls short of the profound transformation the gospel offers.

“There is no real repentance,” Locke claims. “There’s no real transformation based on the gospel. No real healing in their home, in their marriage.”

Medicating and Counseling the Demonic

Locke addresses the prevalent practice of medicating and counseling demonic influences instead of truly confronting them. He points out that cute sermons, therapy sessions and other conventional methods may fall short when dealing with spiritual battles. The church, he argues, has taken people just far enough, and it’s not the people unwilling to go further but the pastors afraid to delve into uncomfortable territory.

“All of these things aren’t going to relieve people of a demonic spirit, of a spirit of heaviness or fear or addiction,” Locke shares.

Overcoming Fear and Embracing True Deliverance

Reflecting on his own experiences, Locke admits to times when he, as a pastor, hesitated to embrace the movement of the Holy Spirit fully. The fear of accountability and responsibility led to cutting short potentially transformative moments. However, he emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring genuine deliverance, drawing parallels with Mark chapter 1.

“We take people just far enough to still keep them in bondage,” determines Locke.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Pastoral Responsibility and True Gospel Transformation

Locke raises a critical point about pastors being complicit in maintaining a cycle of partial healing. He reveals the alarming reality of pastors, even from large churches, seeking deliverance for addictions and struggles behind closed doors. The focus on outward conformity rather than true gospel transformation becomes a stumbling block.

“it’s kind of like a doctor situation,” Locke says. “There’s money in keeping people sick, right, and so sometimes there’s money, there’s power, there’s influence, in keeping people coming back.”

Breaking the Chains: Moving Beyond Half-Truths

Passionately advocating for a shift in mindset within the church, Locke exhorts the church to move beyond half-truths and embrace the complete gospel. He challenges the notion that pastors may prefer people to be healed only slightly, suggesting that a fear of losing control or influence could be at play.

“There is real freedom in Jesus Christ. A gospel that doesn’t provide freedom and life transformation is no gospel at all,” Locke says.

The Law of Double Reference: Unveiling Biblical Continuity

Delving into biblical references from Joel 2 and Acts 2, Locke emphasizes the Law of Double Reference. He clarifies that the fulfillment of these prophecies did not end with Pentecost but extends until the Second Coming of Christ. The continuous availability of deliverance and miracles challenges cessationist viewpoints.

Complete Wholeness: Challenging Cessationist Mindsets

Confronting the cessationist mindset, Locke acknowledges its comfort, but asserting that it contradicts the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from his own journey out of cessationism, he urges a re-examination of the biblical narrative, emphasizing that gifts are given to the church until the perfect man is formed.

“Why does the devil have supernatural ability, and God apparently has no more gifts for the body?” Locke asks. “From a cessationist point of view we only look at the beginning and we say, well, that happened on the day of Pentecost, yes, but the text clearly teaches us that it continues until the second coming of Christ, and so the deliverance is still available. The miracle signs and wonders and visions are still available as long as they’re in the context of Scripture.”

Balancing Truth and Spirit: The Need for Both

Locke stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between truth and spirit within the church. Acknowledging abuses and misinterpretations, he advocates for a genuine pursuit of both spiritual manifestations and biblical truth, steering away from extremes.

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord. We need both spirit and truth in worship,” Locke explains.

Pastor Greg Locke’s insights challenge the church to move beyond half-truths, embrace the fullness of the gospel and welcome the transformative power of the Holy Spirit for true freedom and deliverance in Christ.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Zulya Schmidt, wife of 26-year-old Christian preacher Hans Schmidt, continues to urge fervent prayers for her husband’s recovery following a tragic shooting incident on Nov. 15. Despite facing grim circumstances, she expressed profound gratitude in a Thanksgiving message on Facebook.

As of the latest updates, Hans Schmidt remains in serious condition, prompting his family to hope and pray for a miraculous recovery. Pastor Gary Marsh of Victory Chapel First Phoenix addressed the situation during a Sunday service, urging the congregation to pray for comfort, healing and a quick recovery for Schmidt.

“We really need to pray for a quick recovery, believing God for a miracle in that,” Pastor Marsh stated, emphasizing the impact of the incident on the lives of those involved and the need for divine intervention.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

The Glendale Police Department is actively investigating the shooting, initially reported as an assault. Officer Gina Winn described the incident as a “horrible offense,” urging the community to come forward with any information regarding the tragic event.

Hans Schmidt, a father of two, was shot in the head while engaged in street preaching in Glendale, Arizona. Schmidt’s wife, Zulya, has been imploring the public for fervent prayers for her husband’s recovery and the family’s well-being during this challenging time.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

In the midst of a broader debate over religious freedom in the United States, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has weighed in on a legal clash in Oregon, highlighting concerns about the restriction of church activities.

St. Timothy’s church in Brookings, Oregon, finds itself in a legal struggle with the city over an ordinance that limits the church’s provision of free meals to those in need. The DOJ, through Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, emphasized the potential violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and the infringement on religious organizations’ use of their land.

“Many churches and faith-based organizations across the country are on the front lines serving the critical needs of people experiencing hunger and homelessness,” Clarke explains. “Discriminatory zoning restrictions that burden and limit religious organizations’ use of their land violate federal antidiscrimination laws. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all religious groups can freely exercise their religious beliefs.”

The heart of the matter revolves around the city’s decision to restrict the church’s charitable activities, claiming the ordinance aims to control the frequency of free meal services provided by St. Timothy’s. The church, backed by the Episcopal Diocese in Oregon, argues that such restrictions impose a substantial burden on its faith-driven mission of compassion and offering assistance.

The legal battle hinges on the interpretation of the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The DOJ contends that the city’s actions may violate RLUIPA, a law designed to safeguard religious institutions from discriminatory land use regulations.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

St. Timothy’s asserts that, for over a decade, it provided meal services up to six days per week, including during the challenges posed by the pandemic. The church maintains that its commitment to serving the community is an integral aspect of its religious exercise.

The city, however, challenges the applicability of RLUIPA to its actions and asserts that the ordinance does not significantly burden St. Timothy’s religious activities.

In times when religious freedom is a subject of growing concern for American Christians, legal disputes like these reflect a broader societal shift. The Bible forewarns of challenges to Christians, stating, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you,” (John 15:18). The apostle Paul encourages believers to endure persecution, stating, “Yes, and all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” (2 Tim. 3:12).

In navigating these challenges, the biblical perspective encourages Christians to stand firm in their faith. As Jesus advises in Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The ongoing legal battle between St. Timothy’s church and the city of Brookings underscores the complex interplay between religious freedom, community service and legal restrictions. As the debate unfolds, American Christians face an increasingly delicate balance between their faith’s convictions and societal expectations.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Amid a decline in religious belief across the United States, an unexpected phenomenon is gaining traction—a surge in exorcisms, the spiritual ritual aimed at purging individuals from demonic possession.

This trend is not limited to the U.S. alone; it extends globally, with Latin America experiencing a notable increase.

Andrew Chesnut, Chair in Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, points to the Pentecostal movement as the driving force behind this surge. Pentecostals, a branch of Christianity emphasizing the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in today’s world, has become a dominant force worldwide.

Originating in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901, and taking the world by storm as a movement in Los Angeles in 1906 at the Azusa Street Revival, Pentecostals openly embraced deliverance from evil spirits in the 70s-80s, bringing the ministry into the mainstream. In response to the growing demand, the Catholic church expanded its exorcism practices, training more priests to meet the needs of believers.

Chesnut notes, “It’s a free market of faith, and if you want to compete, you have to offer the goods and services that people want.”

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Professor Deepak Sarma from Case Western Reserve University highlights the U.S. as a historical hub for spiritualism. The nation’s emphasis on individuality has fostered an environment where individuals can select elements from various religions. This “toolbox approach” redirects people to independently engage in practices such as exorcism without adhering to traditional religious institutions.

Sadly, this is a sharp departure from the biblical foundation of America, where there was one God, and it was Him the country honored, and no other.

“Many more people have moved away from institutional religion toward ‘Spirituality,’ where individuals are able to pick and choose doctrines, practices, rituals and in this case purifying/healing endeavors from across any number of religions. This toolbox approach empowers individuals to be able to act on their own, without bowing before religious institutions and hierarchies,” Sarma says.

Despite this longstanding potential for exorcism practices, why is the current surge happening now? Chesnut proposes a connection between the rise in exorcisms and global anxiety about world events. In times marked by challenges like the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, individuals seeking solace interpret the surge in exorcisms as a rational response to the perceived signs of an impending apocalypse.

In a world filled with uncertainties, the uptick in exorcisms reflects a search for spiritual answers and deliverance from the anxieties of our troubled times.

Yet with all things, Satan offers false copycat substitutes for God’s true deliverance power.

The need for biblical discernment to separate the true moves and power of God from the fake is of paramount importance, because there are many false prophets, teachers and healers in the world falsely claiming divine authority.

As Paul writes, test these teachings and events with Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21), and as Jesus Himself exhorts His followers, “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” (Matt. 10:16).

To learn more about deliverance ministry, click here.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Sitting down with Charisma magazine for an exclusive “Beyond the Article” interview, Pastor Jentezen Franklin shares how he became aware of the transformative power behind prayer and fasting.

Raised in a preacher’s home, Pastor Franklin shares his early experiences with fasting, witnessing his parents example through prayer and fasting. Reflecting on these memories, he emphasizes the importance of fasting in aligning oneself with God’s will, sharing personal encounters during a pivotal three-day fast in college.

“Fasting is about us coming in alignment with God’s will. It’s not about what I can get out of God; it’s about giving more of ourselves to Him,” Franklin says.

Recalling moments of deep prayer and sensitivity during fasting, Franklin draws parallels between physical discipline and spiritual discipline. He likens the process to losing one sense, allowing others to intensify, aligning with the biblical principle of becoming more attuned to God’s voice.

“When I knelt down the presence of God overwhelmed me. There’s something about fasting that just makes you sensitive, it makes you open, it makes you broken. It makes you anointed, [with] ears to hear your spiritual ears get bigger,” Franklin explains.

Moving beyond the physical benefits, Franklin discusses the spiritual impact of fasting on the spirit, soul and body. He emphasizes the biblical precedent of fasting, citing examples from Jesus, Elijah, Moses and Paul.

“Fasting hits all three aspects of our being: it fine-tunes our spirit, renews our mind and brings our flesh under control,” Franklin notes.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Reflecting on the recent revival at Free Chapel, Franklin attributes it to a 21-day fast where families were symbolically placed on the altar through submitted pictures. The focus on youth and backsliders brought forth a powerful move of the Holy Spirit, with many experiencing salvation and spiritual renewal.

“We could not get the people in the buildings. And the thing that touched me the most was it was centered around two things: We had fasted and we prayed for our young people, and that the backsliders would come home and that there would be an outpouring on the sons and the daughters of the Holy Spirit. Baptism, speaking in other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance, and I’m telling you, we saw hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. I could not even count how many were saved and backsliders came back home,” Franklin shares.

Encouraging those unfamiliar with fasting, Franklin recommends education and preparation, suggesting resources and materials to understand its biblical significance. Stressing the communal aspect, he advises against fasting alone, suggesting a sunup-to-sundown approach.

“Fasting says to God, ‘I’m sincere. I mean business. I believe in You, and I’m turning with all of my heart to You.’ It’s a powerful way to show God that you’re serious,” Franklin asserts.

Pastor Franklin underscores that fasting isn’t about getting more from God but about giving more of oneself to Him. “You don’t get more of God; God gets more of you,” he declares, encouraging believers to embrace fasting as a sincere pursuit of God’s will and transformation in their lives.

To read more about Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s insight into fasting, click here.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Superstitious beachcombers wandering along the Gulf of Mexico shores may encounter an eerie discovery—gleaming glass that beckons caution. These are not mere trinkets; they are “witch bottles” believed to trap malevolent spirits, emerging along the coastal stretch near Corpus Christi, Texas, as reported by researcher Jace Tunnell.

Since 2017, eight of these mysterious artifacts have washed ashore on a monitored 60-mile beach, prompting intrigue and concern. The most recent discovery, pulled by Tunnell on Nov. 15, contained vegetation and gooseneck barnacles, indicating a prolonged journey adrift.

“I don’t get creeped out by them, but I’m also not going to open them,” shared Tunnell, acknowledging the perceived spells residing within. His reluctance echoes a cautious approach in the face of the unknown: “Why take the chance?”

Instead of unlocking the secrets within, Tunnell has opted to showcase these occult finds on his back fence, respecting his wife’s limit—”shells inside, but no spell bottles.”

These bottles, filled with an array of items such as hair, herbs, local plants, nails or bodily fluids, have a historical presence in the United Kingdom. McGill University’s Office of Science and Society reports nearly 200 such bottles recovered there, hidden in walls or buried underground.

In centuries past, belief in witches and their harmful spells was powerful. These “witch bottles,” when properly prepared, could reflect the spell and torment of the witch, compelling them to lift the curse and facilitate the victim’s recovery.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

The Bible, in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, explicitly warns against practices associated with witchcraft: “There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination, or uses witchcraft, or an interpreter of omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts spells, or a spiritualist, or an occultist, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord…”

The William & Mary Center for Archaeological Research adds that bottles containing metal items, like nails, might be buried strategically to “energize the nails into breaking a witch’s spell.” Various burial locations, from the hearth to corners of a property or even a dung pile, were observed in different traditions.

While fewer than a dozen remnants of this practice have been discovered in the U.S., Tunnell and his colleagues remain uncertain about the origin of these spell bottles. Some may come from distinct “real thin yellow vinegar bottles” made in Haiti, hinting at a potential connection to the Caribbean or South America.

For those who chance upon a “witch bottle,” guidance from the Museum of London Archeology is clear. Whether left on the beach or taken home, the stopper should remain corked. This advice applies whether the intent is to contain spirits or to avoid potential biohazards within.

As Christians, this mysterious phenomenon reminds us to remain discerning in the face of spiritual dangers. Be cautious, guided by biblical principles (Eph. 5:11), and mindful of the occult forces at play.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

In a recent interview with Charisma News, Skillet frontman, John Cooper, both a musician and author, delved into the complexities of our ever-changing culture. Cooper’s insights, drawn from his experiences and observations, are captured in his upcoming book, “Wimpy, Weak, and Woke: How Truth Can Save America from Utopian Destruction.”

The conversation touched upon the challenges of addressing the cultural shifts and moral dilemmas facing society today. Cooper expressed concern about the prevailing ideologies influencing both the secular world and the church, leading to what he terms as being “wimpy, weak and woke.”

“I think we are to the place now where most people are like, ‘OK, things are getting pretty weird.’ …Most people see these things happening now and they’re just saying, ‘What is going on?’ and I wanted to write a book that encapsulated all of those things under the rubric of being wimpy, weak and woke,” Cooper explains.

“Wimpy” refers to a tendency to prioritize being winsome over telling the truth, especially within the Christian community. It takes strength to stand on the Word of God in an increasingly secular world. Cooper notes that the fear of offending others has led to a reluctance to discuss critical topics such as morality, sexuality and gender. The desire to win the favor of the world, according to Cooper, has compromised the steadfast proclamation of biblical truths.

In addressing the challenge of being “wimpy,” Cooper draws inspiration from the Bible, urging believers to stand strong in their faith. Proverbs 28:1 states, “The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” This verse underscores the importance of courageously proclaiming God’s truth even in the face of cultural opposition and cancellation

On the concept of being “weak,” Cooper emphasizes the importance of understanding the philosophical and theological foundations of our faith. He argues that a lack of familiarity with these foundations has weakened the Christian response to cultural challenges. Without a solid grasp of biblical principles, believers may unknowingly adopt secular worldviews that contradict the teachings of Christ.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

“We have become philosophically and theologically weak,” Cooper proclaims. “We do not know what has come before us. We do not understand political philosophy. We don’t understand worldview. And so we just start saying things that we don’t know are absolutely ridiculous, because we just don’t know the Bible.”

Cooper draws attention to Ephesians 6:10, which encourages believers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This verse serves as a reminder that true strength comes from a deep connection to God and a reliance on His Word.

The term ‘woke’ takes on a nuanced meaning in Cooper’s discussion. While acknowledging the biblical mandate to care for the poor and oppressed, he critiques the secular social justice movement, which he believes often centers around power dynamics rather than biblical justice.

“It creates an entire world, not based on biblical righteousness or biblical wickedness, but it creates a new world [based] on power and oppression. So it creates these new groups of oppressed people that’s not actually accurate to biblical justice.”

Cooper calls on Christians to be discerning, guided by biblical principles. Micah 6:8 provides a biblical framework for justice: “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Cooper also discussed the rising trend of deconstruction within Christian circles, expressing concern that a lack of biblical understanding and an adherence to secular ideologies could lead believers down a path of deconstructing their faith. He emphasized the importance of knowing the Word of God and relying on it for answers.

John Cooper’s upcoming book aims to address the challenges of navigating a culture that seems increasingly disconnected from biblical truth. As believers confront the falsehoods of a society that is seeking to replace God, Cooper urges them to stand firm in their faith, grounded in the timeless truths of the Bible. The call is to be courageous, understanding that true peace and justice come from aligning with the cross of Jesus Christ rather than conforming to the ever-shifting tides of societal expectations. {eoa}

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

In a bold move, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a non-profit organization championing religious freedom, has taken legal action against Vermont officials on behalf of Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS). The school, facing exclusion from tournaments, raised concerns after forfeiting a girls basketball game against Long Trail High School, which included a transgender student on their roster.

The lawsuit, filed by ADF, contends that MVCS, following its religious beliefs about gender and sexuality, was unjustly barred from future tournaments and expelled from the Vermont Principal’s Association (VPA). This action is cited as an infringement on the school’s right to participate in the state’s tuition program and sports league based on its Christian principles.

The complaint emphasizes that MVCS is enduring irreparable harm due to its exclusion, affecting not only its athletic program but also hindering participation in academic competitions, debates and fairs. The VPA’s stance, according to the suit, stems from the school’s adherence to the belief that biological boys are boys, and it cannot affirm otherwise.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Chris Goodwin, the coach of MVCS’s girls basketball team, expressed disbelief at the notion of telling his daughter she couldn’t play sports due to religious views. Goodwin affirmed that denying opportunities based on religious beliefs goes against the principles of fair play.

ADF senior counsel Ryan Tucker stated, “Mid Vermont Christian School believes that boys are boys and girls are girls. They have been punished for this belief. No school or parent should have to change their beliefs to participate in athletics or a state tuitioning program.”

This legal action underscores the ongoing struggle for Christians to maintain their convictions in the face of societal shifts. The Bible encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, as seen in 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be bold like men, and be strong.” Christians in America are called to assert their rights while upholding their beliefs, recognizing that the Constitution safeguards religious freedoms. In doing so, they echo the apostle Paul’s resilience in defending the faith despite opposition.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

What if the only thing you had was what you gave God thanks for?

Would a lot of “stuff” disappear just like that? Or would you grow in prosperity because you thank God for the things not yet received?

Charisma Media’s own Marketing Copywriter and Coordinator Abby Trivett shares how the Lord has taught her the significance of having a grateful mindset through her years at Regent University and ending up at Charisma.

“[God] opened the door for me to work with the Editorial team so I could start writing…and get to know this side of the company,” Trivett shares.

“I found myself in a new season that I was able to graduate college, and I’m applying for jobs and I’m looking at stuff saying, ‘OK God, where do you want me to go?’…and my mother gave me some really good advice. She said, ‘Abby don’t just apply for a job, but apply for a job that makes sense.'”

The Lord used Trivett’s submission to His will to lead her to a place that not only is a business and a ministry at the same time, but also has a program to further one’s education with her alma mater.

This trust in the Lord opened Abby’s eyes to a world of thankfulness because God planted her right where she needed to be.

“It really showed me how good God was to close the doors that needed to be closed, and to open the doors that needed to be opened, and to just be grateful for every single moment He prepared for me,” says Trivett.

“It was better than what I planned. I had my own plans but God had a different plan for me.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, the concept of thankfulness is discussed for a few weeks, but for the remainder of the year it seems to be put on the back burner.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

“I think gratitude is [a] very understated thing in our society,” Says Trivett. “We live in a culture where we want instant gratification all the time. Every single thing we do—I’m guilty of it too—as soon as you see something on your phone you want to open it right there. But that’s not how we’re supposed to operate. We’re not supposed to operate in that instant gratification.

“We’re supposed to operate in a sense of peace, because you know God’s given us a spirit of peace, and without knowing Him intimately and without seeking His peace, we can easily fall into almost like an anxiety-induced mentality.”

Yet when we give God the thanks and praise He deserves, according to His Word, says Trivett, we allow Him to fix our mindset. Instead of setting our sights on things of this world, we focus on what God wants for our lives, giving us that peace that passes understanding in a world filled with anxiety, anger and depression.

“When we don’t say ‘thank you’ to God for the things He has given us, and we just focus on the things that He hasn’t given us, it changes our walk in a bad way,” Trivett reveals.

“Whereas, if we flip it and say thank You because You have provided me with whatever it is: this job, this car, this friendship, whatever it is, you’re like ‘Wow, God’s given me so many things.'”

Let’s make 2023 the year we start being thankful for the blessings in our lives. Not just during the holidays, but year-round. Each day is a gift from God, filled with victories and struggles, but we can rest in the knowledge that the blood of Christ set us free from the bonds of the devil, and that is something to be thankful for each and every day.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

There is no sugarcoating this: America is in deep, deep spiritual darkness. If she continues down this track of satanic and demonic practice, she will see the Lord’s hand removed completely, and suffer greatly for it.

Need proof of the decline in America? Look no further than a recent piece in Cosmopolitan magazine which defends and promotes this abhorrent satanic ritual.

Working in conjunction with The Satanic Temple, Cosmo promotes TST’s abortion ritual to their millions of followers. Abortion itself is not new to the U.S., but performing it by way of satanic ritual in one’s own home is taking an already deadly practice and making it worse.

The outlet states, “At first glance, The Satanic Temple’s new telehealth venture, named after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr.’s mom, seems like a social experiment in trolling. But as Cosmo reports, the fully credentialed clinic is serving real patients and has a real chance of breaking the religious right’s grip on abortion law.”

Never mind the glorification of child sacrifice to Baal. Never mind the blood-red theme of the webpage that turns “T’s” upside-down when you scroll so they resemble inverted crosses. Never mind the exposure of a satanic ritual to millions of women around the world. This article reads as if it were written by Satan himself.

Attacking the “religious right” as though TST are the ardent defenders of freedom in America, Cosmo makes the same case that Satan does in deceiving people about the mission of this group really is.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

“Never mind that Satanists don’t actually worship the devil. There are no ritual sacrifices or quests for supernatural powers at TST. In reality, Satanism is a nontheistic faith in which TST’s roughly 1.5 million global members view Satan more like a mascot, one depicted not as a dark, omniscient deity but as a literary character—a venerable symbol of rebellion, rational inquiry, personal sovereignty, and resistance against tyranny. Followers champion science, religious diversity, and the separation of church and state, says Chalice Blythe, an ordained minister of Satan and the group’s spokesperson for reproductive rights.”

These are the exact same tenets being pushed by the radical, Marxist left.

Articles such as this are causing TST to grow in popularity in America, as radical groups who support the transgender ideology have already adopted many of their principles.

Still don’t believe me? Look at the trans-satanic designer that Target hired which caused a large backlash against the retailer. Yet Cosmo’s article will reach just as many, and convince them that Satanism really isn’t that bad, that Satanists are merely fighting against oppressors and those who want to take away women’s rights.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

While giving a step-by-step guide in what to do in the article, the focus of the ritual is clear: oneself.

Using the same tactic that worked against Adam and Eve, Satan still deceives humans by appealing to their sense of pride and narcissism.

It is not cliché to say that America needs to corporately repent of her sins against God, but not enough Christian leaders are saying it. The church needs to stand up and trust in the power of God to effect change, not please the ears of people who want to avoid confrontation.

Jesus confronted sin and death and won. Christians have that same power given to them by the Holy Spirit. It is time to use it to fight this very real spiritual war taking place. Lives are literally at stake if they do not.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.