Ghosts, Supernaturalism and the Wesley Poltergeist

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TMK Oct 20, 2017

"...Nevertheless, Wesley believed in angels, demons and other supernatural beings, and he was quite open-minded regarding the existence of witchcraft, ghosts, apparitions and the like. And based on entries in his journals, he wasn’t quick to dismiss others’ stories about their encounters with the supernatural, especially if he knew them as persons of integrity..."

http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/6415/ghosts-supernaturalism-and-the-wesley-poltergeist

sermonindex Oct 20, 2017

"Two servants were the first to hear Jeffrey’s groanings and knockings in the dining room. Then the Wesley children began hearing those noises as well as sounds of footsteps, rattling chains, horns being blown and wood being sawed. There were also accounts of moving furniture, including a levitating bed that was occupied at the time by John’s older sister Nancy."

Demonics! We have authority over them in the name of Jesus.

Blaine

T

TMK Oct 20, 2017

Did you see the part about Susanna commanding it to not bother her during her prayer time (5-6pm) and it never did.

sermonindex Oct 20, 2017

Yep. That demon wasn't going to mess around with a godly woman like Susannah Wesley. The One who was in her was greater than the one who was haunting the house.

I'm of the opinion that apparations and ghostly phenomenon and poltergeist are simply demons and harassing spirits. They can generally be dispersed by commanding them to leave in the name of Jesus Christ.

I had an incident where a poltergeist was entangling a cord in my ceiling fan. At first I thought it was people in the house that would toss the cord into the fan just to be mischievous. But later I found it was a mischievous spirit. After commanding it to leave in Jesus Christ I had no issues with the fan cord.

Blaine

T

TMK Oct 20, 2017

I have never had any such experiences, thank goodness.

I have always wondered about ghosts- one reason is that Jesus told his disciples he was not a ghost after his resurrection.

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Â Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 24:37-39

J

JFW Oct 21, 2017

King Saul went to a "witch” and called up Samuel...and from the response given it sure seemed like it was him.
1 Samuel 28

T

TMK Oct 21, 2017

The book "Blumhardt's Battle" is quite enlightening in this regard.

T

TMK Oct 23, 2017

From John Wesley’s Journal:
"It is true likewise, that the English in general, and indeed most of the men of learning in Europe, have given up all accounts of witches and apparitions as mere old wives' fables. I am sorry for it, and I willingly take this opportunity of entering my solemn protest against this violent compliment which so many that believe the Bible pay to those who do not believe it. I owe them no such service. I take knowledge that these are at the bottom of the outcry which has been raised, and with such insolence spread through the land, in direct opposition, not only to the Bible, but to the suffrage of the wisest and the best of men in all ages and nations. They well know (whether Christians know it or not) that the giving up of witchcraft is in effect giving up the Bible. With my latest breath I will bear testimony against giving up to infidels one great proof of the invisible world; I mean that of witchcraft and apparitions, confirmed by the testimony of all ages.”

I guess I never considered shows such as "Ghost Hunters” as supportive of Christianity, but given Wesley’s statement perhaps in a way they are.

sermonindex Oct 23, 2017

Wesley acknowledged the existence of a spiritual world. Sone of our evangelical brethren today will not acknowledge the existence of a spiritual realm, good or bad.

Simply an observation.

Bro Blaine