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The mission this October/November of 2001 was most precious and of awesome fruitfulness. We began in Okinawa, Japan where we ministered for 14 days of intense ministry-literally from one end of the island to the other, from the China Sea shores, to the Pacific Ocean shores and, village to village. We taught prayer walking in many churches where hearts were wide open to learning and doing the ministry.
On this visit we visited churches ministered where we had previously ministered, and found evidence of new fruitfulness and growing numbers of converts.
NAGO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
In October of 2000 we prayed over a hill which was above the church. The hill had a very strange concrete structure and a statue of a female goddess on it. There was much evidence of uncleanness-lots of litter strewn about, and also evidence of much youth activity. We prayed over that entire area-remitting sins and releasing the goodness of our Lord. Then we cried out over the city a renunciation and decree to the North, South, East and West, rededicating that hill to Jesus-its Maker.
The pastor said that a few days later they heard heavy equipment up on the hill. They went up to see them moving the goddess and removing the concrete structure-completely clearing the top of the hill. When we went back up there, we found a bare hill with no litter or evidence of youth activity anymore. We sang and worshipped, praising God for cleaning up that high place.
The church is growing, with 3 new families being saved since last year. Praise God!
KIN VILLAGE BAPTIST CHURCH IS STILL GROWING
We went on a prayer walk with them and were overjoyed to find the biggest nightclub in the area closed down, and now operating as a gift store. This one was very wicked, with flames of fire painted on its outside walls. My impression was that it was mocking those in torment in the fires of Hell. We had remitted the sins of those owning it and that worked there, as well as the sins of our American servicemen frequenting it.
We went past another nightclub where the lady proprietor had been saved and wanted to sell it; but it wouldn't sell. In October 2000 we prayed over the building, asking for it to sell-releasing the lady out of that area-so she could buy a home in the countryside and away from the influence of nightclubs. Ten days after we prayed a buyer came and gave her the price she asked. Now, that building is a cleaner's, instead of a nightclub. Praise God!
We prayed around and through a Junior High School that had a reputation of young boys taking students away and beating them up. We prayed over the area, and as we walked around the outside of the school-due to a detour because of road construction-we came into a heavily wooded area. We were led to go down a steep path, above a creek, behind the school. We came upon a very ancient shaman altar, and, again, much litter and uncleanness-evidencing much youth activity, like it was on the hill above the church in Nago. We all felt strongly that the Lord had led us into that deep, dark, wooded area, and that this was the stronghold over the school. We thoroughly prayed over it all and then proclaimed it to be property for Righteousness. Such joy broke out over us that we began to rejoice and praise the Lord, knowing He had heard our prayers!
THIS STORY WAS RELATED TO US DURING LUNCHTIME SHARING:
Two nine year-old boys were chosen
from their school, with two others, (2 on each side), to ride
the 20-ton rope before the struggle between more than a thousand
people involved in a tug of war. The boys attended Kin Village
Baptist Church. Great honor was bestowed upon these young boys
in this festival that is held only once every seven years. Their
place was to stand on the enormous rope and challenge the other
team on each end. However, this festival honors the god of fire
and involves temple worship in its rituals. So, the first thought
of the parents was to refuse to allow their sons to participate
in this festival; but they all came to the pastor for advice and
prayer. As they prayed and waited upon the Lord, Colossians 2:15
came to them; "That you may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." From
this they believed the Lord promised a "public showing of
victory".
So, the boys participated in every thing, with a testimony that
their faith was in the Lord Jesus Christ, and not in the fire
god. Then the time came for those involved in the fire fight (they
were clothed with heavy leaves, held fiery torches, and fought
with clashes against each other), to go into the temple (with
the young boys) to offer up their sacrifice. But then the men
in charge told the Christian boys that they did not have to go
into the temple, but could stand outside, while the rest went
in. This was the first time, ever, such a thing happened. That
was the first victory for those two Christian boys. Normally,
three city officials and three boys go into the shrine to bow
before the idols. But the city officials told the boys, "Stand
out here."
For this tug of war there are two massive sections of rope woven together into one rope of 200 feet, and weighing over 20 tons. Of the 1,000 people involved, there are 500 from each side of Kin City. The boys stood on each side-the two Christian boys on one side challenging the two on the other side. Suddenly one of the boys from the other side jumped off the rope and ran away, leaving just one boy standing to oppose the two Christian boys.
The tug of war began and as they pulled it looked like the non-Christian side would prevail; but just as it seemed all was lost, the rope broke-with a loud "crack"! Only one-fourth was on the non-Christian side. A shout from the contestants and spectators went up that was heard all over the city. Never before in the 1,200 year history of this festival had a rope broken during the contest.
The team from the Christian boys' side quickly took back their lost territory and pulled the rope to victory! Many were saying the Christian's God won! Pastor Kena told me that he had received a prophesy from Psalms 20, "to be strong and fight, and the Lord will fight for you."
Praise God! Kin Village Baptist
Church is the church about which we have previously testified.
When we first went there in 1997 they had just a handful of people
attending. But as they took praying and walking seriously, God
began bringing in the lost to Him. Dozens have been saved and
baptized. Their church now totals over 100 people and is growing
every month, as they continue doing battle for the lost.
ANOTHER GREAT JOY was to meet the nine children of a very
dear Okinawan Christian mother and grandmother. Her children came
to three of our meetings on the north end of the island.
MANY AREAS OF OKINAWA WERE PRAYED
OVER WITH TEAMS JOINING US FROM A VARIETY OF CHURCHES-Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Church
of Christ, and Methodist, as well.
THE ISLAND OF MIYAKO, JAPAN
We have previously reported about the second highest Shinto priest on the island, who came to Jesus shortly after we went there to pray with a team from Okinawa. Since his conversion we have received report that he took his entire personal shrine and sacrificial articles, which filled a truck, and took them to the dump to burn. He went to the shrine he had officiated over and resigned, turning over his authority and items of worship. His wife was also saved; and they both now give testimony of the Lord's great salvation.
Please keep them in prayer for protection and continual strength to stand, as he is 84 years old, and from many generations of priests.
A SMALL ISLAND IN THE CHINA SEA
We also prayed over a small island
in the China Sea where only Noro's live. They are a sect of shamanism,
who serve as priestesses of the politicians and the Okinawan upper
class. We are believing for victories to continue over these ancient
places and rituals, filled with idolatry and fear.
HONSHU ISLAND
We prayed over many temples and shrines-too numerous to list-all across Honshu-the largest of the Japanese islands. The most significant were in four different areas.
NIKKO
37 of us went to pray the best known
of the Buddhist-Shinto pilgrimage sites of Japan. On this mountain,
pagodas tower into the heavens, and the massive ancient cedar
trees bend away from the temples and shrines, showing through
nature itself, that the light isn't in those religious structures
at all; but that more light comes from the heavy forest.
Since we were there in 1996, to walk and pray with about six of
us, I observed many changes. One of the first things I noticed
was that the gold leaf and art work had tarnished terribly. There
also were warnings about the monkey's being a hazard, as they
have been attacking visitors and biting them. The next thing was
that the weather was beautiful, and the trees in full autumn color,
which caused us to believe that the crowds would be overwhelming.
(In 1996, the masses thronged the place in wet, dreary, cold weather.
We had to be careful to stay together or we would be lost in the
crowds.) This time the numbers of the pilgrims and visitors were
noticeably decreased.
THE NEXT PLACE WAS TSUKUBA-SAN-MOUNTAiN #1
Here, on each of two peaks of the mountain, a temple was built-one for the male god, and one for the female goddess. We had 42 people from three churches associated with Missionaries Ron and Teddy Sawka. They have a large church in city of Sano, and have been working in Japan for over 30 years. At Tsukuba-san the wind was blowing a harsh cold rain, making our journey up the mountain very difficult, so we opted to take the cable car instead of the hundreds of step to the top. At the car's end we continued walking up the rocky path, praying each step of the way, until we reached a small Shinto temple built to honor the man-god of protection and to worship man's accomplishments. We went up another fifty feet above the shrine to the very highest stones where rainwater filled pockets of rocks and then ran down the mountain. The peak was heavily fogged in and no more visitors arrived, giving us full liberty to loudly verbalize our prayers and proclamations of remittance and renunciation. We called for the captives to be released from the deceitfulness of this religion, in Japan, and across the earth. By the time we finished we were all chilled to the bone, but we were singing at the top of our voices, "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Everyone was rejoicing as we began our journey down from this first mountain.
MOUNTAIN #2
This mountain contained many Buddhist and Shinto shrines, honoring the goddess who was descended from an incestuous sexual encounter with the brother of the mother goddess, who brought forth this ruling goddess over the entire universe. There was a garden, where this goddess was placed for three days, in an area roped off with white strips of paper, cut like lightening, hanging on the rope. (We see these types of areas all across Japan, signifying holy ground.)
We asked a lady, who was manning one of the booths, about the female goddess who ruled the universe. She led us to the garden, had us pay 200 yen, and showed us this roped off area where they carried the statue of the golden goddess. The lady explained that during those three days the goddess was in the garden, she gave commands and decrees concerning the governing of the whole universe for the next year.
It torqued my mind to think about believing in a statue that was supposed to be the goddess of the universe. She was born through an incestuous act; but she had to be carried by Buddhist priests to the place where she would make decisions for the ruling of the entire universe for the next year! With these thoughts, a groaning cry was born within me, and I had to turn away and walk that garden-crying out to the Lord for deliverance for the precious blind souls bound in such lies and terrible tales of the origin of their deities. My heart was overwhelmed as the Lord began to bring me comfort over the heavy burden that had come upon me there. Then great joy filled my soul with thanksgiving to my Lord for the utter simplicity found in the Gospel message.
As we left the area, and continued along the way of the booths, my sight and my mind was filled with the glorious arrangements of the Japanese chrysanthemums shining forth in every manner imaginable. The Japanese gardeners train them into all kinds of shapes. They come in every color. Some are formed into trees; others are massive sprays of flowers. Some are single blooms-up to 9 inches across and each one seems more beautiful than its predecessor. I gave continuous thanks to the Father for the workmanship and patience put forth in them all; but I also cried out to the Lord in sorrow, because these displays are the greatest form of glory the Japanese people can enjoy. My intercession was, "Lord, let these dear people see Your glorious liberty and awesomeness. All they have are these works of their hands to present to their gods. Oh, Lord, send Your Glory over Japan, revealing the awesome beauty of Your Truth that sets men free!"
IWAKI SHRINE
There were many more shrines that we walked and prayed over; but
I want to give report about this shrine, as it is very significant
in the warfare of Japan. On the 17th of November, we drove from
Morioka to Iwaki Shrine. They had already had a good snowfall,
so it was cold; but the snow was beginning to melt and no significant
wind was blowing, which kept us from getting chilled. That always
helps when you have 1500 step to climb, just to get to the gate
of the shrine.
We found a sign explaining the history of this shrine, dating back 1,200 years and dedicated to five gods--#1, fishing, #2, ancestors, #3, pioneers, #4, good luck, and #5, fortune. It also houses the guardian god of agriculture. In this shrine there is a sect of priests who train themselves to get power by living in isolation and meditation. This, then, introduces them to the power of mediums. The sign also stated that there are over 8 million gods, and over 80,000 shrines (Shinto) across the Japanese Islands. We prayerfully entered the huge gates, proclaiming
Psalm 24:7-10 (KJV-Judith's punctuation.)
(Command to the Gatekeeper): "Lift up your head, O ye
gates;
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in."
(Gatekeeper's Reply & Question): "Who is this King of
glory?"
(Answer to the Gatekeeper): "The Lord-strong and mighty;
The Lord-mighty in battle."
(The Command is Repeated): "Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
even lift them up, ye everlasting doors.
And the King of glory shall come in."
(The Gatekeeper Repeats his Question): "Who is the King of
glory?"
(The Gatekeeper is Answered): "The Lord of hosts-He is the
King of glory. (Selah!)."
We then moved on and prayed over the grounds-remitting sins of
idolatry. We removed our shoes and went up the steps into the
shrine. To our right, were the Shinto priests, wearing their white
robes. One was sitting with two Japanese ladies, teaching and
answering their questions. As we began quietly praying, the ladies
stood up and left. Then the priest, a precious young man in his
thirties, asked us about our visit. He could see that we hadn't
bowed before the altar; but were just walking about. He asked
if we had any questions. I quickly replied in the affirmative
and we all joined him around a kerosene heater.
He gave us the history of the shrine and what their dedication consisted of; and then he made mention of the place of the mediums on the other side of the mountain. I immediately asked my interpreter to inquire if we could go and visit that place. Then the priest stood up and got a map, showing us the directions and cautioning how easy it is to get lost. We thanked him for his information and kindness, and he shook our hands, inviting us back anytime. [My heart really goes out to him for his salvation.]
THE RITUAL FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FOR THE WINTER
We hastened back down the steps to our cars and headed for the other side of the mountain where the mediums lodged. In my previous experience, the roads in Japan are well maintained and nicely paved; but as we neared our destination this road was full of chuckholes, and at times it was only a graveled surface. The intensity of our prayers increased and the terrain changed from a lovely cedar forest to scrub brush and trees that were only about 10 feet high, mixed with elephant grass. My spiritual alarms began to go off and I told the brothers to stay in the Spirit and stay focused, because we were entering a very strongly held area.
All of a sudden, to our right, a small clearing opened up, and there were short gates to structures-unlike anything I had ever seen in Japan. We saw a series of one-story, shanty-like buildings joined together along the mountainside. It was like something you might expect to see in a little town in Old Mexico-but not in Japan. Again we prayed and touched the gateposts, quoting Psalms 24. The brothers went ahead of me, as my spirit was still waiting on the Lord for directions before entering the gates.
As the brothers approached the open double doors of the structures, just past the lion dogs and to the left of us, a man and woman came around the outside corner of the building. Again, all of my alarms went off as I saw the woman. I knew that my brothers were being approached by one of the high mediums of those premises. I dropped back, praying and claiming the Blood of Jesus, and asking protection over the brothers by the door.
My interpreter turned around, looking
back at me, and said, "They are asking us if we would like
to come in." My spirit had release, as now the scripture
of Numbers 13:30 came to mind: Caleb said, "Let us go up
at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."
And Joshua and Caleb spoke to the people in Numbers 14:9, "Only
rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the
land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from
them, and the Lord is with us. Fear them not."
With full assurance, I went in-knowing our Heavenly Father accepted
our petitions. To my left there was a triangle of candles, approximately
five feet tall and burning brightly. I could see an altar behind
containing many fetishes and fruits of all kinds spread before
it. The room held two groups of people. About 35 were at the base,
sitting on the floor before tables, ready to eat; about 8 more
were sitting, clothed in white rainment. At the far end of their
room was another triangle, about 3 feet high, also with burning
candles.
The main altar was in that first
room. The men were beginning to stick their heads in the door
behind me, as though they didn't have full confidence to enter.
I asked my interpreter to ask if we could take pictures. The lady
answered, "Yes, but as you approach the altar you should
bow." I replied through the interpreter that I couldn't bow
to anything I did not know about or understand. To my surprise
she agreed, and told us that we could go anywhere we would like
and take pictures.
We walked about in a great shield of joy from Above as we greeted
the people and took pictures. Then they invited us to sit at the
head table and eat with them. I quickly prayed for wisdom, and
the words, with a gesture, came from me. Pointing to my watch,
I replied, "Thank you, but we are behind our schedule of
allotted time, so we must be going." The two people that
originally greeted us, now saw us off.
Before departing from each other, we stopped on the road to pray against counter attacks. But first, the brothers shared with me their amazement at the great liberty we had while we were there. At first, while we were still in front of the doors, their stomachs were doing flip-flops until I passed them and boldly went in. Then they took courage and followed me in. They could hardly believe how cordial everyone was to us. I told them they had just witnessed the power of our remitting the sins of rebellion, witchcraft and idolatry from off those dear people in bondage to them. Then they felt the release of the goodness of the Lord coming upon them, allowing us to be eye-witnesses of the power of God to temporarily lift off from the people the heavy load of condemnation-right before our eyes!
I also reminded them that they had heard my testimony of the change coming over a person who was in my face, and threatening my life, holding a knife at my throat. And that when the Lord overcame the fear in me, I was released to remit the sin(s) and release the goodness of the Lord towards that person. And then that person changed right before my eyes. "Well, brothers," I said, "You have just witnessed how the Lord blinded their eyes to our purpose for being there and allowed them to feel, perhaps for the first time in their lives, the lifting of the heavy load of condemnation that they have been living under."
We rejoiced that the Lord had given a mighty victory over Japan and prayed for protection over us, our travels, our families and fellowships across the earth, and against counter attacks from the enemy. Great joy was upon us all as we parted and went down the road, rejoicing in the Lord for allowing us to see more strongholds coming down! We rejoiced that the captives could be set free and saved.
THE NEXT DAY WE DROVE A LONG WAY TO "TOWADA" to join the pastor of that area, along with seven others, eager to walk and pray an area called "THE BLUE DRAGON FOREST & SHRINE". At this shrine people pay homage to their ancestors. As we briefed the team, we learned that the Blue Dragon is called the guardian of that middle area at the top of Honshu Island (the largest island of the Japanese chain) and across to the Sea of Japan. This area has the highest incidence of suicides in all of Japan. When I heard this, my heart really began to intercede for them, and a great determination was birthed in me, to see that region taken back from the "murderer" and "thief "of this world. According to John 8:44, we would come against the "Father of Lies" who was lying to and deceiving the dear people in this principality.
We prayed as we climbed up the treacherous and steep mountainside to the place where the people go to the mediums to receive their fortunes. When they receive their piece of paper with their fortune, they toss it off the cliff into the Blue Dragon Lake. Then a Buddhist monk is supposed to come and fish it out of the water, read it, and then pray for them. Then he throws the fortune paper back into the lake for it to come to pass. The people pay dearly for each of these "services". The saddest thing is that many take their own lives by throwing themselves off the great cliff.
We earnestly walked and prayed around those cliffs, remitting sins and releasing God's life-giving goodness over all that walk there in despair; and we bound the "strongman of death". When we came back together on a lookout platform, the "Alleluia" song rolled forth from our lips and our hearts as we released our great joy to the Lord for the victory over death, hell, and the grave!
By the time we came down to our cars, it was quite dark, and we drove until 6 p.m. to another site. It is absolutely astonishing what the people of this place believe.
THEY SAY THIS IS WHERE JESUS AND HIS BOTHER MARRIED AND LIVED AND DIED; AND AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IS WHERE THEIR GRAVES ARE FOUND!
"Wow!" I said. "That
spirit that got in trouble in the Apostle Paul's time for letting
there be a "Shrine to the Unknown God" on Mars Hill
(Acts 17:23) had to bring quite a lie here to Japan to keep the
Japanese from believing in a resurrected Christ!"
At the top of the mountain were two mounds with a white American-style
picket fence around them, and a tall, white wooden cross in the
middle of them both. These are told to be the graves of Jesus
and His brother; and the villagers below believe they have descended
from Jesus and His brother. Oh! The power of Satan to deceive!
We finished walking that land and went to the visitor center,
which looked like a lovely American Christian church. It even
had a tall white steeple. I thought of Jesus' own words in Matthew
15:14: "If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into
the ditch."
We prayed over that area-renouncing the power of deceiving spirits and remitting the stubborn will of those who will believe these lies, and those who have first promoted this belief. We especially took time to intercede for the village below us that practice their Buddhist-Shinto religion, along with priding themselves to be direct descendants of the Christian Son of God.
As we drove down the mountain, through the village, my heart hurt and I cried out for these poor blind people living so very close to the truth. Yet they are so very, very far away from the truest heart of the living, resurrected Christ. They don't know Him as the One Who is at the Father's right hand, interceding for the true believers in Him to be raised up, and then go to these very people, in the power and demonstration of His Holy Spirit.
THE OLDEST SHINTO SHRINE IN THE NORTH OF HONSHU
We drove about 45 minutes along the base of those big mountains to this shrine where the Blue Dragon tale originated. It was 600 years older than the one we had just prayed over where the suicide rate was so high. Naturally, we felt this shrine had to be addressed in the spirit. The shrine was lined on both sides with stone foxes; so, in our prayers and declarations, we used the words of Solomon's Song (2:15) concerning the "little foxes that spoil the vines"with tender grapes." The word picture speaks of the little foxes destroying life in the vines' newborn tender state. In Japan, this translates to a major problem for missionaries. The convert begins his walk with the Lord, but can be quickly cut off by the family, and cultural ties, and die before he can be brought to maturity. After a late evening meal we had our service that night and then personal ministry to everyone that came. It was after midnight when we got back to our hotel.
OSORE-ZAN-"FEAR MOUNTAIN"
THIS IS KNOWN AS THE MOST POWERFUL CENTER WHERE MEDIUMS HAVE
CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN JAPAN.
The next morning we were on the road by 6:30. This day would bring our final spiritual battle for this trip to Japan. It would take us to the very top of Honshu Island-looking across the Inland Sea towards the northern island of Hokkaido.
We arrived at the main gate of Osore-zan, which is the main rallying place for mediums who are all women, and mostly blind. There is a continual flow of people who come here to have their fortunes told by these women mediums. We could see that the place was closed down for the winter. The large gates were closed and we could see no sign of anyone, except on the far right, where there was a drive-through gate to service the facility. The site was 60+ acres, containing a large temple with a wide corridor going up from the high entrance gate to the temple. There was a stream of sulphurous water flowing on both sides.
We began our prayer mission, again, by declaring Psalm 24:7-10. As we were standing there, agreeing in prayer for the gates, a truck came up to the service gate. One of our team members ran over to them and stated, "We have a very important American here who is studying the religions of Japan. Could we come in with him and walk around?" The driver gave his assent, but also said that he had work to do on the far upper right buildings and that there would be no one to give an actual tour-we would have to walk around alone, since Osore was closed for the winter.
We entered, rejoicing, that, not only were we able to enter; but we had full liberty to walk the grounds and buildings. We could pray verbally with no one to monitor or hinder. We walked over the grounds and its many temples, which represented every facet of life's needs and tests. We were deeply moved in several areas where stone images represented abortions, and the distresses of women. Our hearts were held in deep emotion as we cried out for the mothers of Japan.
Our hearts were stricken again and again as we saw the great wealth of Japanese coins heavily strewn all over the ground in front of the multitudinous idols. The ground was saturated by the belching sulphurous fountains-similar to those in Yellowstone National Park-and the coins that were not being gathered were being corroded and eaten away. It was a study of devastation in the natural and the spiritual realms. The sulfur not only ate away at the coins, but also the foundations of the temples and of the stone images. It was astonishing to see how much time and energy had to be given by the Japanese caretakers in the continual replacing of that which was being destroyed day in and day out.
However, we left rejoicing in the
Lord for opening those doors that "no man could open."