As a deliverance minister who preaches at churches around the globe, Vlad Savchuk says he has seen skyrocketing stress levels, especially in American culture. It is causing people, including millions of believers, to be engulfed by a demonic spirit sent by the enemy.

That, he says, is never what God wants for their lives.

God doesn’t want us to live “marginless,” or without breathing room. If you find that is happening to you, Savchuk says it’s likely Satan has wrapped a spirit of python around you—one that is meant to squeeze the life out of you—especially if you are trying to serve God with your whole heart.

“A recent survey says that seven out of 10 US adults feel completely overwhelmed,” Savchuk said in a recent sermon. “Being marginless is the disease of our decade, and margin is the cure. Margin is having a space between your limit and your load. We all have a load, and we all have a limit. It’s not biblical, or common sense, to break that limit. Having margin is having breathing room in your life where your load and limits never meet.

“Two things will happen if you don’t have margin. Number one, your stress levels will go up, and as our stress levels go up, we begin to develop diseases that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Then, we begin to medicate for all of that. Number two, your relational intimacy goes down. All of your relationships become superficial. They are not deep anymore because it takes room for relationships to flourish, even your relationship with God.”

That’s when you might likely discover the spirit of python is present in your life. Savchuck says a demon commonly takes the name and nature of a snake. When a spirit of python likely is present there are three ways this devastating entity can attack you:

“First, pythons can swallow their prey whole,” he says. “Satan loves to put thoughts of hopelessness, disrepair and suicide to invite people to take their life. Suicide is never a solution. It’s a sin against God. We don’t partner with the spirit of death to find peace. Jesus can set you free from suicidal tendencies.”

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide was the 12th-leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 46,000 people. It was the second-leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34.

“Second, python squeezes the breath from its victims. The word ‘breath’ in the Bible represents the Holy Spirit and life. The devil wants to squeeze the life out of believers by using their circumstances, overwhelming them with the burdens of life. We must breathe in God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:10) and breathe out prayers of life.

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“Third, pythons lay eggs and incubates them until they hatch. The devil loves to put eggs of doubt into the minds of people. If doubt is not taken care of, it can hatch into unbelief. Doubt can become a sin if it leads you away from God,” Savchuck says.

Are you experiencing doubt, especially about the presence of God in your life? There are several ways to deal with it and to expel this destructive spirit:

• Don’t miss the community. Doubt feeds on isolation.
• Focus on what God has done. Remembering what God has done helps you to fuel confidence in God’s Word.
• Remember how much Jesus loves you. Jesus’ stripes heal our sickness, and His scars heal our doubt.
• Call on Jesus in your doubt. God does not mind if we doubt as long as we look for answers from him.
• Speak God’s Word against the devil. Jesus was questioned in the wilderness with doubt, yet he fought it by speaking God’s Word.

“I believe that it is Satan’s task to swallow people alive,” Savchuk says. “John 10:10 says the thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

As someone who earlier in life had thoughts of taking his own life, Savchuk explains how Jesus can deliver you from the spirit of python, just as he was delivered.

“Satan is after you, and if he cannot destroy you, he would rather swallow you alive,” he declared. “I have a word for every person today that is standing on the edge. Solution is not found in suicide, it is found in Jesus Christ.

“You may say that you can’t take it anymore, but I have something better you can do with your life that take it, and that’s to lay it down. Give your life. That’s what the Lord spoke to me when I was a teenager. Jesus says, give it Me, and watch what I can do with it.” {eoa}

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As a “seer in the spirit” from a very young age, Blake Healy says that, although he had the ability to do so, he didn’t feel a natural compulsion to interact with angels.

As he grew older and got more involved in the ministry, Healy began engaging more and more with angels in the spirit realm. And, as he became more knowledgeable about them, some people began to pepper him with questions about “guardian” angels, who they are assigned to and what exactly they are tasked to do.

In his first book, “The Veil,” Healy, the director of the Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry, revealed the different kinds of angels he has seen over the years. Those include what he calls “protection” angels.

Healy notes that many of these angelic beings “stand near the front door of people’s homes (or churches), looking far off into the distance, with their main mission being to offer a 24/7 security presence for the human who are present inside that particular dwelling place.”

Healy has seen all types of angels since he was a child. He’s seen worship angels, whom he says take a great amount of time to prepare a room where a church or worship meeting will be held, or simply a gathering of believers. These angels are often seen floating above the room with bowls in their hands that hold different colored liquids symbolizing different properties of blessing that God would like to bestow upon those people who choose to come to that gathering.

Activation angels, he says, seem to activate some kind of major power from God. And then there are “deep heaven” angels. One once appeared to Healy and presented God’s plan in the form of a scroll as it pertained to Blake’s life. The angel showed him that God allows human free will and is still in control of everything.

But protection angels, Healy says, are much more than guardians. They are more like personal attendants who are constantly assisting and loving the person they are assigned to. They actively demonstrate love to their person through their entire life (including conception).

Healy says that these angels are symbolic of the all-encompassing protection of God.

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“This angel is more like a resourceful personal assistant,” he says. “I have never met anyone with more than one, and I’ve never met anyone without one. Personal angels sometimes resemble the person they are matched with—for example, a blonde girl matched with a blonde female angel who resembles her. They serve as a representation of God’s love and help for that person throughout their life.”

They have many tasks, Healy says, for the person they have been assigned to. But these tasks are not the main reason for their existence.

“Personal angels do a lot of things for us. They pray for us, guard us and support us—but these are not their purpose. Personal angels exist because God wanted every person on this planet to have someone whose sole purpose is to love them well. Everything they do is an expression of this.”

Healy wants every believer to know reality of these “protection” angels, and to be comforted by the fact that, even if you are unaware of their presence, they are always available to help.

Click here for more of a compelling conversation with Blake Healy about the function of protection angels. {eoa}

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On July 16, three weeks before the wildfires began, prophet Charlie Shamp of Destiny Encounters gave a prophetic warning to the people of Hawaii that a “demon of death” would land in the form of a dragon in that state that would cause people to die.

The wildfires, which sparked and began to spread on Aug. 8, have killed 114 people as of Monday. Many media outlets are reporting that more than 850 people are still missing from the destructive blaze.

While ministering in Hawaii, Shamp says the Lord released him to deliver a hard, prophetic word to the state—a word that was connected to its “covenant with abortion.”

“This was a significant warning that the demon of death would land in the form of a dragon in the state and would cause people to die,” Shamp prophesied in a video on his YouTube channel, Destiny Encounters.

In March 1970, according to Hawaii.edu, Hawaii became one of the first states in the union to decriminalize abortion. That day, it changed its 100-year-old law on abortion and became the first state to allow abortion essentially at the request of a woman.

Now, Shamp says, Hawaii is paying for its sins more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, an infamous law which made abortion legal on a national level beginning in 1973.

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“I want you to hear me very carefully. We have seen the overturning of one of the greatest, strongest demons in America,” Shamp says. “That demon of death has been rebuked and the bloodshed has been lifted off certain places in America. But just as a spirit is driven out, it goes to look for another place where it can land. The enemy seeks a place where there is an open door that he can come.”

Shamp says he and his family traveled to Hawaii in July to deliver the prophetic warning to its people.

“We are here (Hawaii) by God’s divine design for this time. The enemy tried to stop me from coming to these islands to even deliver this word,” he says. “The enemy seeks to bring some significant bloodshed upon this place. But it will be through intercession of the saints that the door will be closed. But you must to rise up in this hour and close the door on that demonic power that is lifted off of certain states but seeks to come to this place.

“What did the dragon in Revelation 12 want to do? He wanted to kill the baby. The Spirit of the Lord revealed to me that dragon seeks to bring the spirit of death upon this place. The spirit that lifted off of the nation through Roe v. Wade in certain sections where abortion will not be allowed any longer … he seeks to land in the place to bring bloodshed and unless there is significant intercession that will come up from these islands, a spirit of death will come into this place.”

Shamp encourages everyone to continue in prayer for the people of Maui and the state of Hawaii.

“I’ve been in shock and heartbroken over the news of what has transpired in Maui as we were just there a few weeks ago with the family,” Shamp said last week. “The burden of the Lord came over me one day while I was there and I just began to weep. I knew within my heart what I had seen was going to come. But what the enemy has meant for evil, the Lord will turn it into good.” {eoa}

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Have you ever heard someone quote the Bible and think to yourself, “Umm, I’m not sure that’s what it really means…”?

Unfortunately, this happens all too often. What we think a Bible verse means can profoundly affect our understanding of its message. When we study the Bible in context and fill our lives with Scripture, we regain a proper view of God and invite Him to work powerfully in our lives.

Let’s explore some of the most misquoted and misused verses in the Bible and uncover their true meanings:

1. Matthew 17:20 — What you might think it says:If you have faith like a mustard seed, you can move mountains.

What it actually says: “Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you.'” People often misquote this verse, believing that if they just had more faith, they could do impossible things. But Jesus didn’t say we can move mountains; He said, “it will move,” which means God is the One doing the impossible, not us.

Why it matters: Sometimes God calls us to do outrageous things that require His mighty intervention. When we trust and obey Him, the pressure is off. We don’t have to perform or impress; we simply obey, and God takes care of the rest. God works miracles, not us, so we can point people to Him, saying, “Look what God did!” That’s an incredible way to live.

2. Jeremiah 29:11 — What you might think it says: God has plans to prosper you.

What it actually says: “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse is often misused to support the idea that God wants us to be wealthy and healthy. However, the Hebrew word “prosper” here means shalom, which encompasses completeness, safety, peace, welfare and prosperity. In context, it assures Israel of God’s faithfulness despite their exile.

Why it matters: God’s plans for us include peace, completeness and safety in His faithfulness. It doesn’t always mean wealth and health, but it ensures a deep relationship with God.

3. 1 Corinthians 10:13 — What you might think it says: God won’t give you more than you can bear.

What it actually says: “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted above what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” This verse addresses temptation, not life’s trials.

Why it matters: God doesn’t promise we’ll handle everything in life; we’ll often face situations beyond our ability. These moments drive us to God in surrender, seeking His grace. When we trust Him in our incompetence, He leads us to abundant life.

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4. Proverbs 3:6 — What you might think it says: Tell God everything you’re planning to do, and He’ll make it work out.

What it actually says: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” This verse encourages a personal, intimate relationship with God, not just informing Him of our plans.

Why it matters: Seeking a deep relationship with God leads to submitting to His direction and reaching His desired outcome for our lives, which is for our good and His glory.

5. Revelation 3:20 — What you might think it says:”Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.” We often see this of this picture as Jesus standing outside an unbelievers house (heart) asking to come in. In other words, it’s a passage that’s addressed to the unbeliever.

What it actually says: The problem is this verse isn’t addressed to the unbeliever. It’s addressed to Christians. More specifically it’s addressed to a church.

Why it matters: It is about how we as believers can become lukewarm and feel we are self-sufficient. In doing so we push Jesus out and leave Him standing on the outside of the door. That’s the picture this verse is painting, Jesus standing outside a Christian’s heart asking to come in.

Understanding the Bible’s true meaning deepens our understanding of God and invites His powerful work in our lives. The next time someone misquotes a verse, gently point them to the beautiful truth found in a proper understanding of Scripture: God is good, and our deepest joy is found in Him. {eoa}

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Spiritual dreams, Benny Hinn says, don’t happen very often in life. But when they do, he warns believers to pay very close attention to them.

In a video released Aug. 16 on YouTube, the renowned evangelist, teacher and author says he recently had “an amazing prophetic dream” in which he had a profound encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and the dream has convinced him that we are “very, very close” to the coming of the Lord.

According to Hinn, the last time he had a prophetic dream was in the 1970s, when he saw himself swimming in a turbulent ocean, and the Lord lifted him out of the waters and put him into a boat. He says he had just gotten saved when he had that dream.

In this recent dream, Hinn says: “I saw myself being lifted from the earth. I was wearing a white robe and I went into space, literally raptured. I came to a curtain as I was in space. It opened up and I walked in. I went through a narrow way, a white narrow way, and it was like a winding way and it was quite long. As I came out of this narrow way, I saw this beautiful area in heaven. I looked and I saw the Lord. That was probably the greatest moment of my life.

“When I walked up to Him, He hugged me. Oh, I can still feel that. .. As I came, he was talking to some people in heaven who were all wearing white robes. I came over and He did not say anything to me except He just gave me a hug.”

During the dream, Hinn says he saw his wife, Suzanne, looking much younger than she does today, “dancing joyfully up the mountain.” He also saw Mrs. John Hagee on the mountain dancing. He then saw Pastor John Hagee, whom he has known for years, looking much younger than he does now, and that Hagee was writing something “very scholarly.’

That’s when Hinn woke up. Upon reflection of the dream, Hinn says he believes that he “deeply senses” that the world is on the verge of the “greatest happening in human history.”

“The coming of the Lord is upon us,” Hinn says. “I know we’ve all heard that, but I think the Lord is speaking to us and through many of us to prepare us.”

One of the greatest indications of the imminent coming of the Lord, Hinn says, is that “we are seeing an alignment of Russia, Iran, Libya and Ethiopia. … We see the alignment coming together where the nation of Libya, Tunisia and Algeria siding with Iran, just like the Bible says. So, these are very exciting days for all of us as we see prophecy coming so beautifully together.”

Hinn says the political map is changing “daily” in the Middle East, and that countries such as Egypt and Lebanon could soon align with Israel. He says God’s people need to pay close attention to what is happening in that part of the world that are lining up with biblical prophecy.

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The fall of Afghanistan to terrorists—the Taliban—was a trigger point, Hinn says.

“The happening in Afghanistan is going to change again the map of the Arab world because radical Islam is going to rise in that part of the world, bringing the Saudis closer to Israel; bringing not only the Persian Gulf nations that are already aligned with Israel but bringing the Egyptians, besides the Moroccans,” Hinn says. “Other Arab Nations could very well come into the fold of what’s happening with Israel.”

As far as the rapture is concerned, no one really knows the timetable for that spectacular event. But, Hinn says, “the Ezekiel 38 war must happen” before the rapture occurs.

Hinn does say, however, that the signs are there that it will come soon.

“What are we seeing today? Number one, while all this is happening, we’re seeing the decline of the United States as a superpower,” he says. “Nations are questioning what’s going to happen to America. … We are seeing many, many things coming together very rapidly. We are seeing weather changes; we’re seeing the decline of America as a superpower; we’re seeing the remapping of the Middle East; we’re seeing the rising of nations aligning with Israel and the rising of nations aligning with Iran.

“Things are moving very, very rapidly. How long will it be? I’d say it will be five years maybe before we see Ezekiel’s war, but Ezekiel’s war can happen way quicker than that.”

Middle Eastern nation radicals would like to remove Israel completely out of the picture, Hinn says, so the Ezekiel 38 war is inevitable. But the radicals, of course, will lose that war, according to the Bible, and “Israel will gain new prominence in the world without the help of the United States.”

When Israel wins the Ezekiel 38 war, Hinn says, it will “give Israel the opportunity to build” the prophesied Third Temple. “Once they win the war, who’s going to stop them?” Hinn asks.

So, what does all of this, including his dream, mean for the future? Hinn reiterated that the coming of the Lord is “very near.”

“I think every believer needs to get ready right now,” he says. “We need to be on our knees more than ever. We need to be in the church more than ever and we need to support ministries more than ever because our time is almost over.”

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Earlier this summer, the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to disfellowship three churches that allowed women to serve as pastors sparked significant controversy. The one that garnered the greatest amount of attention was Saddleback, retired Pastor Rick Warren’s former church in California.

In June, the Southern Baptist Convention, at its annual meeting, voted to uphold its previous decision to remove Saddleback church from the denomination because of its appointment of female pastors, a stance and practice the SBC rejects.

The SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. and Warren has been adamant in his stance opposing the SBC’s decision, as Charisma columnist Lee Grady reported.

Andy Wood was appointed as senior pastor after Warren left earlier this year. Saddleback hired a teaching pastor that just happened to be Wood’s wife, Stacie, and that’s when the Southern Baptist Convention got involved. Section 6 of the SBC’s Baptism and Faith message reads, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

Despite a great deal of pushback from many in the kingdom, the SBC stood firm in its decision and expelled Saddleback from the SBC; and it is not the only Christian denomination that restricts women from serving as pastors or priests.

Several other denominations uphold similar beliefs, often rooted in their interpretations of Scripture and tradition. Here are seven more who agree with this policy:

1. The Orthodox Church: With roots dating back to the first century, the Orthodox Church has maintained its tradition of only ordaining men to the priesthood. This stance is based on Holy Tradition and the view of ministry, and it isn’t limited to the ordained priesthood. The Orthodox Church upholds the significance of tradition in its position.

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2. Roman Catholic Church: The world’s largest Christian denomination, Catholics have long upheld the prohibition of women’s ordination. It’s stance is based on the belief that Christ chose only men as His apostles and that example must be followed. The policy has been challenged many times, but never overturned.

3. American Baptist Association (ABA): The ABA is a network of independent Baptist congregations that adhere to the belief that only men should hold positions of ordained church leadership. Their conviction is rooted in the interpretation of passages from the books of Titus and 1 Timothy that outline qualifications for church leadership roles and specify men.

4. Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA): The EFCA recognizes the value of women’s gifts and ministries but refuses to ordain women as pastors. Their stance is complementarian, recognizing the distinct roles of men and women in the church.

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5. Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS): This denomination has a history dating back to the 19th century. Like others mentioned here, it adheres to the belief that the pastoral office and authority were bestowed upon men by scriptural teachings and centuries of Christian tradition. This position, too, has been challenged, but nothing has changed.

6. Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC): Founded by J. Gresham Machen, OPC differentiates between religious and civil authority, noting that biblical figures like Deborah held civil leadership roles rather than religious ones. OPC sees those as distinct from pastoral ministry.

7. Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): Formed in 1973 as a conservative alternative to the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern), the PCA firmly opposes women’s ordination as pastors or elders. The denomination sees this issue as a matter of biblical authority, but there is ongoing debates about the extent to which women can serve in other church ministries, such as deacons.

A Lifeway Research study, released earlier this year, tells a different story as it found that 55% of U.S. Protestant pastors reported that the senior pastor role is open to women in their churches. That includes a whopping 94% agreement by Methodists and 78% agreement by Pentecostals.

The previous eight examples, however, refuse to change their position on the subject and will continue to take on massive criticism from a large portion of the kingdom for sticking to their traditions.

In his book 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, J. Lee Grady tells how the Bible has been misused to keep women in spiritual bondage. {eoa}

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While signals of the end times are all around us, Evangelist Perry Stone says there are three specific pre-tribulation situations of which believers should be keenly aware of in the coming months.

Stone says that China’s imminent military action against its island neighbor, Taiwan, will soon escalate, and the global ripple effects from that will be major.

Secondly, the internal conflict that is happening currently in Israel, Stone says, could make that country vulnerable and open it up to military attack from primarily Muslim Middle Eastern nations around it.

In addition, Stone says a group of nations, led by China, are trying to form an economic collation to all use the Yen as their currency, one that will devalue the U.S. dollar.

Stone warns that none of these should be taken lightly and could happen at any moment.

“For years, we have been predicting, based on Scripture in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation that there is a coming tribulation period which is marked by a peace treaty—a seven-year period that is divided into two periods of 42 months,” Stone says. “Now, there is no evidence that we are in that yet, but we’re in the birth pains, which is recorded in Matthew 24:8 that all signs are taking place and the beginning of sorrows is happening. I want to alert you to these pre-tribulation signs. These are things that I see happening in the coming months. Some of it will be vey fast and some of it’s going to be very slow.”

Media outlets are reporting that China is not happy with Taiwanese Vice President William Lai’s current visit to the United States and that it has pledged to take “resolute and forceful measures” to protect its sovereignty.

Taiwan continues to “stubbornly adhere to its separatist position of its independence, and the Chinese government is condemning such actions.”

“China believes that Taiwan needs to be annexed into China. But the majority of the people, from what I have studied, are completely against coming under the thumb or the iron fist of a communist nation. There is certainly a conflict brewing with, how will China invade and when will then invade (Taiwan). I had a military man share with me the reason he believes China has not made a move yet when they very easily could have done it is that they’re watching what is happening with Ukraine and Russia, and that’s gotten stuck,” says Stone.

“China has watched the world’s reaction to that, and what they don’t want to do is stir up the world against them; boycotting their products, etc. If that would happen, then it would have a huge impact on China economically. If they invade Taiwan, it could create serious problems for China.”

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The second situation Stone says believers should keep an eye on is what is happening with Israel. He says everybody that keeps up with Scripture is aware of Israel’s external enemies, but huge problems have arisen in Israel internally that could result in a “dictatorial government.”

Hundreds of pilots have reportedly said they would not fly in such a circumstance, and that could open the country up to military attack by other Middle Eastern nations. Many of those nations are referred to in the Bible, Stone says.

“The danger of that is that if the Israeli reservist military and Air Force is impacted by people who protest against the government, then you have those three or four rogue nations that could say, let’s attack,” Stone says. “We know that these nations are eventually going to have a war called the War of Gog and Magog. Could a civil conflict that affects the nation be part of what introduces them of getting hurt. Time will tell.

“We should have a concern for prayer about the internal conflict. A Scripture that keeps coming to me is that a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

The third area Stone warns about is BRICS, or a possible economic coalition between Brazil, Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia. China, it has been reported, wants those nations to use the Chinese Yen as their currency and they are discussing a currency that would replace the U.S. dollar.

“This is over 3 billion people involved here,” Stone says. “China wants to head this up to be the economic center. They are saying that there is a possibility they would back it up by gold, so some of these nations have really been purchasing a lot of gold. The U.S. currency is not backed by anything but the Federal reserve.”

All of these situations, Stone says, will most likely happen in the next few months.

“There’s going to be a lot of activity, and I always tell believers that some things are set to happen because they are written in stone, because it’s in Scripture and it’s prophetic,” Stone says. “Some things are delayed, like the judgment of Nineveh. And, there are things that men are planning that can also be altered because through prayer. … But the main thing is, we must trust God through everything.”

Read about what Jesus told us in the last day in Michael Youssef’s book, Is the End Near?{eoa}

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Dutch artist Bas Uterwijk brought a new element into the age-old argument of what our Savior, Jesus Christ, really looked like while He was here on earth.

Not surprisingly, it stems from recent technology that much of the world seems to have embraced with open arms—artificial intelligence. By reconstructing Jesus’ visage through a synthesis of artistic renditions, Uterwijk’s work offers an interesting lens into history, attempting to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

For centuries, artists have sought to capture the essence of Jesus through their own interpretations. And much like different interpretations of the Bible, those artists have contributed to the diversity of depictions we have seen in today’s culture.

Uterwijk’s groundbreaking collaboration with AI technology is an eye-opening testament to how far art and technology have evolved. It allegedly allows us to peer into the past with more precision than ever before.

Cultural biases have often influenced the portrayal of Jesus. Many traditional renderings give European features, most notably fair skin and blue eyes. It reflects the artists’ backgrounds more than historical accuracy.

But scholars and theologians have more often emphasized that Jesus’ ethnicity would align with His Middle Eastern origins. A deeper understanding of the geographical and cultural context prompted Uterwijk to embark on his quest for an accurate depiction.

Uterwijk’s rendition involved a sophisticated process guided by AI, specifically a neural network trained on an extensive dataset of photographs and paintings of human faces. His background in computer generated Images and special effects gave him the technical prowess to harness the power of AI.

The artist explained, “[The artificial intelligence software] application makes it possible to combine multiple sources of faces and merge them in a synthesized version, guided by the artistic decisions of the user. I use it to create historical and fictional characters.”

Uterwijk draws upon various historical and cultural representations. The artist masterfully blended Byzantine and Renaissance depictions, including the renowned “Salvator Mundi” by Leonardo Da Vinci and the Turin Shroud, while remaining true to Jesus’ Middle Eastern origins. As a matter of opinion, Uterwijk’s portrayal provides a more authentic interpretation, offering a glimpse into how Jesus might have appeared during His time.

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Not everyone is on board with AI’s role in Uterwijk’s work, and some perceive it as unconventional and controversial—even blasphemous. Many conservatives and religious leaders believe AI cannot provide an accurate example of what Jesus looked like to be absurd.

Many others, however, believe the technology bridges gaps between history, art and contemporary understanding of that history—even the Bible. Uterwijk’s work offers a new perspective, allowing some individuals to visualize what they believe is an accurate representation of the most important figure ever to walk the face of the earth.

For certain, Uterwijk’s innovative use of AI has yet thrown another element into the argument about Jesus’ physical appearance—an argument that will continue to rage on.

Is there an answer, a guide, a blueprint that reveals what you need to know to survive, to stand, and to prevail in view of what’s coming in the days ahead? Read The Josiah Manifesto by Jonathan Cahn and find out. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

As a missionary evangelist to the nations, Daniel Kolenda frequently encounters levels of spiritual warfare that most people don’t see in their day-to-day lives.

He casts out devils. He deals with witchdoctors in Africa.

“The kinds of things we deal with on a daily basis are quite extraordinary,” says Kolenda, the president and CEO of Christ for All Nations, a ministry that has conducted some of the largest evangelistic events in history.

But Kolenda says that the same principles that allow his ministry to have victory over the enemy are the same principles that allow any believer to defeat the enemy in “very mundane, ordinary parts of their lives.”

Kolenda believes spiritual warfare is not just something for crusade evangelists who preach in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or other areas of the globe unreached with the gospel.

“It’s a biblical description of the life of a believer in Jesus,” Kolenda told Charisma News’ John Matarazzo in a recent interview. “The apostle Paul says that ‘we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

“So what Paul is trying to communicate to us is that we are in a war whether we understand that or not. There’s a lot of Christians that say, ‘Well, I don’t want to get involved in spiritual warfare.’ But the moment you put our faith in Christ, and you put on the uniform of a Christian, you are drafted into the army of God. It’s not some weird thing; it’s not some spooky thing. It just means you have set yourself up as the antithesis of all that is the enemy.”

When you accept Christ as your Savior, Kolenda says, you represent the goodness of God—the light of the life of the kingdom of heaven.

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And as a result, you become a target in this spiritual war. Whether some Christians want to acknowledge it or not, they will encounter spiritual warfare from time to time during their lives. In essence, if the enemy is attacking you, you must be doing something right for the kingdom.

But Kolenda says if, as a believer, you don’t know that you are involved in the spiritual war, you may be falling into the traps of the enemy and succumbing to the enemy without realizing it.

“That’s why the apostle Paul says that we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices,” Kolenda says. “It’s very important for us, as soldiers in this battle, to understand that we’re in the battle, to understand how it’s being fought and to understand how the enemy is trying to trap us and trick us. If we understand what’s going on, it allows us to be better equipped to fight back and to do what is necessary to be victorious.”

Kolenda explained that believers don’t literally pick up weapons and try to attack an entity. We’re not actually exerting physical energy to overcome an opponent.

Oftentimes, he says, believers are actually fighting with themselves internally.

“There are principalities and powers and rules of the darkness of this world, but they are often influencing us through our own minds,” Kolenda says. “The battle, very often for a believer, rages first and primarily between the ears. That is really where the battlefield is. If you find that if you can win the battle here, the enemy can do all kinds of things externally and have very little power over you.”

The book of Job tells the story of how the enemy was able to inflict many hardships on Job on the outside. But Kolenda says that Job was in charge of the way he handled the situation internally.

“This is the way it is for believers,” Kolenda says. “Very often to me, what spiritual warfare looks like is discipline, integrity. … It is a way of thinking, it is a way of living, it is a way of believing that is contrary to everything that is natural in some ways.

“It’s difficult to be able to walk in the Spirit in this way and to maintain that way of thinking, it’s actually kind of like a war, like a battle. It’s a battle with our flesh. The apostle Paul talks about how he beats his body every day to keep it into subjection. That’s an analogy. He’s talking about an internal struggle to keep the heart and the mind aligned. He uses imagery like how we cast down imaginations and everything thought, every argument that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, these are the images that evoke an idea of violence. … It’s the internal battle to keep one’s heart and mind aligned with the things of God.”

Kolenda expounds upon that very principle in his book, “Slaying Dragons: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Warfare.” For more on that and of his interview with Charisma News, click here. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

Widely admired evangelical leader Arthur Gay, president of the National Association of Evangelicals in the 1980s and president of its humanitarian arm, World Relief, died July 26 at the age of 86.

On its website, the NAE expressed that “the positive impact he left at both organizations remains to this day.”

“Art Gay was one of the most gracious leaders I have ever known. He was a great encourager, always curious and wanting to learn more,” said Galen Carey, vice president of government relations of the NAE. “Art was an example of generous orthodoxy, speaking the truth in love.”

In his role as president of the NAE, Gay served as the organization’s spokesperson. A highlight of his term at the head of the group came in 1983 when he introduced President Ronald Reagan at the annual NAE convention.

During his speech, Reagan, who sought the continuing support of U.S. evangelicals, famously referred to communism and the Soviet Union as the “evil empire.”

“The National Association of Evangelicals community, from coast to coast in our great land, deeply appreciates and values his love for the truth of the Bible and his (Reagan’s) commitment to its great moral values,” the NAE website conveyed that Gay said in his introduction.

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Gay also invited President George H.W. Bush to speak at the World Relief annual luncheon during the NAE’s 50th anniversary celebration at its convention in 1992.

Gay furthered his legacy of kingdom service from 1991 to 1996 as president of World Relief, extending the organization’s international programs. His leadership saw World Relief expand its refugee settlement program in the U.S. and launch new international programs in Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Art continued to care and pray for the global ministry of World Relief for decades after his own retirement from this role. He is a model of kingdom leadership who leaves a remarkable legacy,” said Myal Greene, current president and CEO of World Relief.

Gay also served as the longtime pastor of South Park Church in Park Ridge, Illinois and remained involved in leadership of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference denomination.

“We are so thankful for Art’s faithful leadership and ministry with the NAE, World Relief, South Park and so many more,” says Leith Anderson, president emeritus of NAE.

Arthur Gay enjoyed a deep relationship with the Lord. Read Rosanna Watts-Watson’s “Kingdom Living Now” to develop your own with Him. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.