Category Archives: occult

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WITCHCRAFT SURROUNDS US

There is a growing movement that people are becoming a part of and often without realizing its impact. The movement I speak of is sorcery or witchcraft. Perhaps the vehicle which the devil and his demonic forces will use as the last weapon to capture mankind’s soul.

Witchcraft or any influence which takes you into a supernatural world apart from God is contrary to Scripture. It was forbidden by God in Israel (Deuteronomy 18:9-14) and condemned by the prophets (Micah 5:12) yet today our societies are opening its doors wide to its practices through mind altering drugs and other vehicles which change the heart.

Sorcery or witchcraft is one of the many works of the flesh that will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21) yet demonic forces continue to cry out for its legitimacy to a human population vulnerable and easily persuaded.

Understanding end time revelation is not easy yet I believe Revelations 17:1-2 shows us that one day a form of sorcery will unite nations with the ‘harlot’ who will come against God’s chosen people (Gentile and Jew). As absurd as some may think my view is, I believe a body such as the United Nations may be that vehicle. At this writing we had a foretaste of that in one of their many votes condemning Israel and in this case the USA for it support of Israel.

God would have us keep our minds clear and focused solely on Him as given to us to understand through His Word. Today it is important we be evermore vigilant for WITCHCRAFT SURROUNDS US.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Witchcraft is a wound that will not heal.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Galatians 5:20 “Witchcraft is of the flesh not God’s Spirit”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord protect me from all that is evil.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1.  How is witchcraft becoming more popular in our society?
  2.  Who in Scripture used sorcery and with what results?
  3.  How might the United Nations be an instrument in end time revelations?
  4.  Do you support any form of witchcraft?
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BEWARE OF DECEIVING SPIRITS !

The world of the occult seems to have a special fascination for many people. The danger in them is that they can be and often are the instrument by which satan leads people astray. Christ Jesus addresses this in Matthew 12:22-30 when the Pharisees blasphemed the Holy Spirit through Whom the miracle of healing occurred.

The danger in occultism of course is that it can lead people to follow satan rather than God costing them their eternal salvation. That today is a very present danger. This is made clear in 1 Timothy 4:1. When our words and deeds do not rest on the truth of God’s Word alone then we need to be cautious.

Where deceiving spirits lie are in the occultist practices of astrology (Isaiah 47:13-14), mediums (Deuteronomy 18:11-12), palm readers and fortune tellers (vs. 14), magicians (Genesis 41:8) or witch craft (Deuteronomy 18:10). These and more are who can lead anyone off of the narrow path to heaven and are to be avoided.

Sadly, much of this influence comes from our governments. Jezebel started this with her influence over King Ahab and today again we have political structures promoting misuse of mind altering drugs even for personal pleasure. These and all occultist practices since OT time have been forbidden, forsaken and even punishable by death. BEWARE OF DECEIVING SPIRITS!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Occultism occurs when obedience to our Lord is under wrongful influence.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 27:9 “Occultism is forbidden”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord strengthen me to resist all satanic forces.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1. Where do we find astrology and other occultist practices revealed to us?
  2. Where is the danger according to Scripture in each of these areas?
  3. Do you participate in any occultist practices?
  4. How should we respond to any mind altering experience outside the Christian faith?
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DANGER IN MAGIC!

Magic when defined as doing super human things by ‘supernatural’ means has always been a concern for me. The reason is that in end times satan will show this type of power (Revelation 13:13-18) and many will follow him as a result. What we now call magic is perhaps better named parlor tricks even if somewhat sophisticated but their effect on some should be of concern.

The magic which has been recorded as being of concern is what has been around since the time of the exodus and acknowledged as sorcery which is evil (Exodus 7:11). During apostolic times as now sorcery continued (Acts 8:9) but as the Biblical figure Simon discovered was totally separate from the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18-24). This is where as Christians we need to be concerned.

Comfort for believers comes in knowing God’s power is greater than satans out of whom comes all which is evil. This can be seen in the example of Exodus 7:11-12. Good will always at some point overcome evil when we call  upon God. If we choose not to call upon God it would be well for us to read the prophetic words of 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 and especially the words of the last verse where we read “all will be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (deception)”. This is where there is DANGER IN MAGIC.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Magic often mistakenly magnifies mankind and not the Master.

DEVOTIONAL VERSES FOR TODAY: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “Magic as recognized in prophecy”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord I seek only the power of Your Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1. Can there be both white and black magic?
  2. What is the danger of magic?
  3. Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit?
  4. How do you feel about magic?
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FALSE GODS WE FOLLOW

Mankind since the beginning of time have followed false gods setting aside the one true God. We seem enamored by the idea of higher power such as Greek gods (ex. Zeus) or any other number of gods such as baal . As interesting as they may be to read about and study in literature they most often have evil connected with them. One of those evils is immorality such as given in the example of Israel in Numbers 25:1-9. Here harlotry (prostitution) worshiped like a god came to a quick end unlike today where we flaunt it openly.

Another false god is one who would attract us to mediums or any who say they can read your future. We may think of it as harmless fun but the one true God certainly does not (Leviticus 20:6). Our future can easily be seen if we look into Scripture rather than a crystal ball.

False gods inevitably are prideful and lead followers into becoming so as well (2 Kings 18:28-35). Lucifer was cast down to earth (and one day into Hades) because of pride and any god or action we put our  trust in other than the One Almighty God of Scripture will be treated accordingly.

Sadly, for taking the stand against what God finds evil will bring us persecution as it did the prophets in 1 Kings 19:1 but we know something greater awaits us. That which we would not receive if WE FOLLOW FALSE GODS.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: False gods prevent glorifying the One True God.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Numbers 25:1-9 “immorality of false gods”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord keep false gods far from my front door.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1. What is a ‘false god’?
  2. Are there any false gods you are following?
  3. What false gods do we encourage in our society?
  4. What is the relationship between false gods and prideful behavior?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DANGER OF THE UNKNOWN!

On occasion I have been able to locate grave sites and determine if a male or female body is buried there. You can believe it or not. The method is the same as used for centuries to find water. It uses divining rods and so in a sense falls under the category divination.

Divination is an attempt to foretell the unknown and at its worst does so by occultic means. The danger is when it calls upon false or evil spirits or makes it look as if you are representing God in some special way. That is fraud (Ezekiel 13:6-7) and frowned upon by God. Though those practicing it make it seem as if they have a higher power it generally ends up a scam meant for profit as Acts 16:16 speaks of or something far more spiritually damaging.

Depending on the nature of those who practice it, it is considered an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:11-12) and God will not only turn His face away from them (Leviticus 20:6) but in verse 27 their offense was punishable by death.

Today we look upon those who ‘divine’ as harmless entertainment yet if I am honest with myself I have to wonder if there is not some spiritual danger to watch out for. This most especially applies to those who practice the following: astrology (horoscope), magicians who have no special power (Genesis 41:8), mediums (Deuteronomy 18:11) such as fortune tellers and seance leaders as well as many many more.

The bottom line is these folks even within their minds often feel they are simply having a little harmless fun. I believe God may be looking at this differently as the Scripture from Old Testament to New would show. We need to understand there is only one liaison between God and man and that is Christ Jesus. There also is only one spirit that should speak to us and that is the Holy Spirit. Putting our faith in God alone there is no DANGER OF THE UNKNOWN.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Divination damages those who desire to be Christian disciples.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Deuteronomy 18:11-12 “Divination is considered an abomination”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord my spiritual union is with you alone.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1. Have or do you support any form of divination?
  2. By what means has contemporary  life portrayed divination as harmless fun?
  3. What is the difference between astrology and astronomy?
  4. How does harmless turn to harmful?
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HOUDINI OR JESUS?

Many of us enjoy good magic tricks and some are as simple as ‘slight of hand’ magic where our distraction is the key to a trick’s success to others such as what perhaps the greatest magician of all time (Houdini) did. Others who doubt Jesus have said that He was the greatest magician but unlike Houdini who’s body still lies in its grave that of Jesus Christ is resurrected and the tomb empty.

Magic is defined as doing supernatural things by supernatural means. It is here where the potential for danger takes place. It is here where evil spirits can be released and eternal damage done to a person’s soul. Let me explain. Our Lord God has an enormous power for good but when, as in today’s verse, His name is called upon by someone who doesn’t believe in Him it may very well aggravate the situation further. It is at these moments you enter another spiritual realm you are not prepared for.

So what does the Bible say is the failure of magic. FIRST of all is its INABILITY TO PERFORM MIRACLES. It appeals perhaps most to those who hold to superstitions such as the people of Ephesus (see book of Ephesians) were. The bottom line is all magic (unless evil spirit possession is involved) can be explained as a simple trick. It is why it is often referred to as an illusion.

SECOND the failure of magic lies in its INABILITY TO OVERCOME DEMONS. To the contrary if used improperly it can actual release the demons or evil spirits in a more violent way (see verse of the day). It is important to remember God forbids His people from practicing that which does not honor Him or calls on a spirit other than His own. (see Deut. 18). What we need to do more than ever before is take on the mantle of JESUS CHRIST NOT HOUDINI. To pray for the miracles of Jesus not the magic of someone like Houdini.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Miracles not magic is what made mankind marvel at Jesus.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Acts 19:16 “the wrong way to perform or seek miracles”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord it is in Your name alone I believe.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:
1. How do you feel about magic?
2. What are Biblical examples of magic versus miracles?
3. Have you ever invoked Jesus name in a way He would honor?
4. What demons if any need to be removed from your life?

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IMITATION THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY OR NOT?

For me as a part of the baby boomer generation my life and the life of our nation toke a dramatic turn in the 60’s with the assassination of a president and less than popular war that caused the youth of that time to take up a lifestyle still at the forefront today.
People rebelling against authority have been around since the beginning of time but I don’t believe it has ever been in ways so dramatic and extreme as today. In the 60’s some began with psychedelic drugs, longer hair, wearing the peace symbol (a broken cross upside down) and challenging anything and anyone considered part of the establishment. Rock and Roll music became hard rock. Everything seemed to ‘harden’.
Today youth and many ‘adults’ still imitate the rebel or cutting edge elements of society. We wear tattoo’s and clothes that we believe will make a statement. We glorify Hollywood and the sports world as we ever more distance ourselves from our faith and God. We want to know and control our future so we turn to occultism practices like horoscopes, palm readings and for some more serious practices like Satanic worship which influences us even in the words of the songs we sing.
In the verse for today God’s chosen people were given strict instruction to not adopt the occultism ways of the people in the land they were soon to enter. They as well as we today who call ourselves Christian can know and control our future without horoscopes. It is simple: confess our sin, have faith in God, know we are saved by His grace and then for us to go and sin no more (but know that when we slip God will forgive if we ask Him). As Christians it is more important for us not to imitate the likes of LeBran James, Beyonce or some Hollywood actor but to imitate in how we live our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Identifying with Christ illuminates while indulging in iniquity indicts us.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: Deut. 18:9 “who should we follow”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord i pray for strength and courage to be more like you in all I do.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:
1. Does your lifestyle show who you most want to emulate?
2. Why has popular culture captured the hearts and minds of so many?
3. Do you follow any practices that distance you from rather than strengthen your ties to God?
4. When you feel a rebellious nature what do you do?