Introduction

Several years ago I prayed for whole churches as the Merlin (enchantment) spirit crept in through the worship in many places. The way these spirits operate are so similar to Christian way. But they are not THE WAY. Jesus is THE WAY and only way. I have prayed for so many Christians to get free from these Yoga spirits - Please read.

Kathie Walters
Kathie Walters Ministry


The Danger of Yoga (from DeAnne Loper)

Recently a friend and I were discussing the spiritual aspects of yoga and its influence in the church. Should a Christian practice yoga? What exactly is yoga?

As one who came out of occultism, including belief in reincarnation and eastern meditation, I believe it is important to have a clear understanding of these practices and how they relate to us spiritually.

Where is Yoga coming from?

The word yoga comes from the ancient Indian (Sanskrit) word and means to yoke or unite and has always been a part of the spiritual practices of Hinduism and Buddhism. These eastern philosophies teach that we all have a divine (God) nature within and are one with God and the universe, only we don’t know it.

Many people practice yoga as a form of exercise, but the goal of all yoga is to come to an awareness of self-realization, that is, that the higher self or spirit within us is God. How is this done?

The evil concepts of Yoga

In order to understand the spiritual concepts of yoga, it is important first to understand the basic design of man. When God created Adam, He created him in His own image as a three-part being: spirit, soul and body.

Genesis 2:7 says, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground (physical body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit body), and man became a living soul (mind or will)."

1.Corinthians 15:44 says, "There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

At the fall, when Adam sinned, spiritual death occurred. That is, his spirit man died and became dormant, encased in the prison of his mind (soul) and flesh. That is why Jesus said, "You must be born again," because there must be a rebirth or regeneration of the spirit of man by the Spirit of God.

This is also what is meant by Paul’s statement in 1.Corinthians 15:50, "Now this is say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," because only spirit can touch the spirit world and only a spirit reborn by God’s Holy Spirit can inherit the kingdom of God, which is not of this world (John 18:36).

The wrong Breathing

Through the different breathing exercises and by willfully emptying the mind through concentrated meditation, a shift in consciousness occurs (in the mind), very similar to that of the drug-induced state of the shaman or sorcerer.

A doorway to the spirit realm is then opened through the mind and a demonic spiritual connection is made within the spirit of the person.
The person is now "free" to have all kinds of spiritual experiences, especially the sensation that they are eternal spirit and one with God. This is what is meant by the term self-realization.

In the New Age this is called astral travel or astral projection. In reality it is sorcery because any entrance into the spirit realm through any means other than Jesus Christ is the same as witchcraft (Galatians 5:20, sorcery/pharmakeia/drugs).

Ecclesiastes 10:8 says, "Whoever breaks through a wall, a serpent will bite him." These experiences are genuinely real, however, they are not from the Holy Spirit but from a deceiving spirit.

From the earliest times the enemy has attempted to deceive people using spiritual experiences that are not from God.
"Surely Lord, You have rejected and forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with customs from the east and with soothsayers who foretell like the Philistines" (Isaiah 2:6).

The Roots of Yoga

The practice of yoga goes all the way back to the eastern religions and cannot be separated from its spiritual roots, which teaches that man is God, discounting man’s sin and the need for salvation through faith in the Son of God. This belief that man is God is also tied in deeply with the eastern teaching of reincarnation, which says there is no death.

This is the same lie the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden of Eden and the same lie that will deceive so many before the return of Christ (1.Timothy 4:1 & 2.Thessalonians 2:11).

The false Meditation

There is no such thing as "Christian" yoga. Some Christians believe they can participate in yoga for exercise only while meditating on the Holy Spirit. But in every way it is linked with an ancient religious system that exalts man and opposes the true Spirit of God. The various "asanas" or poses in yoga are positions of worship to the Sun god, Baal. The eastern form of meditation with repetitive chants or phrases is a way of blanking out and emptying the mind, which is the gateway to the spirit.

This is why Jesus said do not use "vain repetitions" when we pray. Even the breathing exercises are designed to lower the level of oxygen in the bloodstream while increasing the level of carbon dioxide, another "trigger" in the nervous system which opens a doorway through the mind to the spirit realm. Many occultists have written about this method of entrance and travel through the astral realm.

Jesus is the right Door!

Jesus said in John 10:7, "I am the door of the sheep."

Because man is a spiritual creature, he searches for spiritual experiences, sometimes through "doorways" other than Jesus.
God loves us and truly desires to give us spiritual gifts and experiences so that we may know Him better (Ephesians 1:15-23). It is through faith and a relationship with Him that the Lord gives us all we need to bless us and to make us a blessing to others.

The Word of God says that before the return of Christ, there will be a great falling away from the faith. Jesus said, "Many will come in my name saying, I Am Christ, and will deceive many" (Mark 13:6). That word many can mean up to thousands.

The Asking for Forgiveness

The Lord is calling His people to Himself today. If you have had any past involvement in yoga or in any of the teachings of the east, ask the Lord’s forgiveness. Then renounce sorcery and the spirits of yoga. Tell them they must go in the Name of Jesus.

The evil spirits, that are involved in Yoga

Some of the names of these spirits are:

The spirit of Antichrist – strongman and spirit of error, denies Jesus as the Son of God, 1.John 2:18 & 22, 1 John 4:3 & 6

The spirit of divination - Python spirit – Acts 16:16-18, counterfeits God’s Spirit and constricts flow of true Spirit in the Believer. Separates in order to control.  Also invited Leviathan - communication - twists truth.

Kundalini serpent power - religious spirit represented by Cobra, spiritually blinds eyes with poisonous teachings and scales. Sits in the base of the spine and winds itself upwards

Shiva and False Light - Jesus is the True Light, John 1:9
The spirit of death - relates to reincarnation teachings and breathing exercises

Strong delusion/Lying spirit - 2.Thessalonians 2:11

All seducing spirits – teach doctrines of demons, 1.Timothy 4:1

Next confess that Jesus is Lord, the only Christ, and true Son of God. Finally, ask God to close every "doorway" into the spirit realm that is not through faith in Jesus Christ. By doing this we take the Sword of the Spirit and sever the serpent and his works.

DeAnne Loper

In the past 20 years, we have seen God restore the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, but we have not seen the power of the apostolic dimension released or the prophetic voice that can still the rains of Heaven from coming.

Each one of the five-fold have been stretching their wings to find out where they fit into the local Church and the Church at large.

As we have seen the past couple of years, there has been an "emphasis" on each one. They have been trying to bring a definition to their character, position and level of authority within the local Church. But God is starting to bring from the nations of the earth the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to join forces together and become one voice.

Unity is the Father's cry for His leaders.

The Hand Symbolically Represents the Five-Fold Ministry

The five-fold (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) have been like fingers stretching out for identity and validation. It is hard when we live in a world where identity is robbed from us at birth and we are taught the "American way" and not the "Kingdom way." As fingers on a hand, they must learn to balance one another out and work together in order to get the task done.

In dealing with the "hand," we must understand God's language and His interpretation of the Word. For example, in dealing with the word "death," Christ referred to it in Luke 8:40-52 as sleeping. We must understand that His language is not like our language. "His thoughts are not like our thoughts, and His ways are not like our ways" (paraphrased, see Isaiah 55:9).

In understanding the hand, we must prophetically look at the hand that appeared in the days of Daniel, writing on the wall (see Daniel 5:1-5), and understand that God is still using His hand to write on the wall of our hearts.

The hand symbolically represents the five-fold ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher.

1. The Apostle is the thumb because it is the only finger that can touch all the others, therefore it establishes and brings order to the other ministries.

2. The Prophet is the index finger because he directs, points and guides the Church in the way it should go.

3. The Evangelist is the middle finger because it stands out from among the rest and reaches out to save the lost.

4. The Pastor is the ring finger because symbolically he is married to the Church.

5. The Teacher is the little finger (pinky) because it balances the rest of the hand and the Church's teachings.

The Hand is Coming into Full Restoration, Authority and Unity of Spirit Again

As we study Matthew 12:13, we notice a man with a withered hand that came to Christ to be healed on the Sabbath Day (Seventh Day). This "hand" was withered and could not reach out in its full potential to grab a hold of its destiny. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers have likewise been withered because they have tried to function alone without the care and support of the other "fingers." The Bible says, "One can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand to flight" (paraphrased). It also says, "A false balance is an abomination to God" (paraphrased).

When anyone of the five-fold try to "operate" on their own, it creates a false balance on the hand. Did you know that your pinky and your thumb bring a balance to your hand? Without the function of the other one, your hand would be unbalanced! This is the time when the paralysis, arthritis and witheredness goes from the hand. The five-fold will begin to have an understanding and an appreciation of the other one.

Notice in Matthew 12:13 it says the man was healed on the Sabbath Day. As we comprehend the days of God, we must know that the Bible says, "With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." It has already been six thousand years (or six days), from Adam until now, and we are entering into the seventh day (Sabbath Day) of God. Praise God! God is healing the five-fold ministry in the seventh day!

God is Thrusting the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers into a Greater Revelation of Him

Symbolically, we now see that the hand of God (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) is coming to full strength and power on the Sabbath Day of the Lord, which we are now entering into according to God's timetable.

In John 20:27, Christ told Thomas to "thrust your hand into My side, and be not faithless, but believing." Symbolically, Christ is calling His apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to go into the "inward part" of God to understand the deep things of the Father. The deep things of God, which represents His secrets and mysteries, are calling to the deep things of man.

As part of the five-fold, we must allow God to take us into the Holy of Holies to train and teach us how to raise up this army called the Church with love and grace. The apostles will begin to work with the prophets. The teachers will begin to work with the evangelists, and the pastors will begin to work with the apostles. This is the plan of God for His hand, so we can all work in one mind and in one accord. As Christ wrote in the sand when a woman was caught in adultery, His hand continues to write today, revealing mysteries and secrets to the Church and bringing grace to all that have fallen.

I See a Cloud the Size of a Man's Hand

1 Kings 18:44 says, "The seventh time the servant reported, 'I see a cloud the size of a man's hand is rising from the sea.'" This hand we call the five-fold is rising up from out of the sea (a people) and is moving in power, signs, wonders and miracles, but more importantly with love and integrity. Can you see it? Can you see the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers arising this hour with integrity, excellence, anointing and, most importantly, fruit to usher in the Kingdom of God?

What happens when you make a fist in anger? Your fingers come together in unity for war! Hallelujah! Psalm 144:1 says, "Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."

God is training His apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for war this hour. The prophets will prophesy the word of the Lord and the apostles will bring forth miracles that will turn this world upside down. The pastors will give us the Shepherd's heart and the evangelist will show us that "God so LOVED the world."

Look up, Church! For the Father's hand is being revealed in the heavens again and writing on the tablets of our hearts!

Jeremy L. Lopez
Identity Network International