During the last ten months, the United States has experienced two tragic incidents in public schools, wherein children brought guns to their schools and murdered a number of their fellow students. This last killing in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has brought agony to people everywhere. How could two boys, 13 and 11 years old, commit such heinous crimes? And this did not take place in some large city, but in a small rural town where we thought things like this could not happen.

As I have followed the news and heard the questions raised by news commentators, from parents and from children, I also began to think about it. How can this be explained? A few days ago I heard the Holy Spirit speaking to me and the answer He gave me was a chilling answer: "These people who are murdering in this fashion are all driven by the spirit of offense." Immediately, my mind remembered the words of Jesus as He spoke the following:

All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:8-12

As we think back to the killings that have taken place for the last ten years or so, from the murdering at a McDonalds in San Diego where some 20 people were shot, to killings in Post Office's, in businesses, in factories, in stores, banks and schools, all the murderers had one thing in common: THEY WERE ALL OFFENDED! Someone offended them and caused them to enter a stage of rage and insanity, wherein they would pick up a weapon and murder the person or persons who had offended them.

They all knew that they would not be able to get away and many of them took their own lives once the slaughter was over. They knew that they would gain nothing, except to get even. But the HATE SEETHING WITHIN THEM was stronger than the self preservation that God has created in all human beings. These murderers had ceased TO CARE. They had only one goal -- KILL, KILL at any cost!

The spirit of offense is not a weak demon, but among the strongest demons existing. Jesus warned us that in the last days these spirits would be loosed on the earth and do great damage. We have just begun to see the slaughter that will take place more and more on the earth.

The spirit of offense is guilty of breaking up marriages, destroying churches and wrecking friendships. The list of their destruction is very long. They are the cause of what has been named "ROAD RAGE," which all drivers of vehicles have experienced in their own lives. It's a rage that just takes over and it throws us into a fit.

July 27, 1997, I preached a sermon with the title, "THE SPIRIT OF OFFENSE." As I went back and read my outline again, I was shocked at what I had preached -- the very accuracy of the message! The Holy Spirit had given me such clear insight into this particular demonic spirit. On March 29, 1998, I preached a second sermon, a continuation of the first one.  it is now very clear to me that these messages must be delivered now, as darkness continues to increase on the earth.  In order to get as large a spread as possible, I will send these two preaching cassettes (RLJ-573 & RLJ-605) to every person contributing to our ministry during the month of April, regardless the size of the gift. God's people must be warned so that we can pray, fast and seek the Lord to stem this evil as long as possible. With the two cassettes you will also receive the printed outline for each message. May God help us!

Please pray for me and my wife and the ministry in Sacramento.  There is so much to do and so many people who need help, but we are short of both people and funds. May God richly bless you is my prayer.