Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Power without repentance [continued]

There shall not be found among you any one that…useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12b

Last week, we talked about how any spiritual power that is contrary to God’s word is not from Him and is, in fact, demonic. This article will detail some of those dark practices and offer biblical truths on how to avoid and/or defeat them.

Divination/enchanter/witchcraft

Those that practice divination seek to predict future events by some supernatural way. The Bible talks about a resurgence of magical arts in the last days (Revelation 9:20-21). Magical arts are associated with the occult, which again includes contact with the dead, supernatural powers (apart from God), paranormal energies (demonic forces) in order to gain power to manipulate or influence things or people. Often the use of drugs and alcohol is involved since it alters the conscious state in order to more easily receive the spirits. When we see more of this—and we do all around—we know that Christ’s coming is even closer. 

Charmers, consulter of familiar spirits (medium), wizards, necromancers

Ouija boards and tarot cards are included with this. This part of the verse in Deuteronomy mentions consulters with familiar spirits (mediums) and necromancers (spiritists). This is anyone who calls up the dead or consults with the world of spirits in order to discover secrets, predict the future, or gain power.

When a person communicates with the dead, who are they really communicating with? See, many demons have already got people to doubt God’s word by believing there are ghosts or spirits of dead people on this earth. According to the Bible, however, once a person dies, they will go to heaven or hell. They don’t sit between on earth trying to complete unfinished business. These are instead “familiar spirits” - demons as servants who can take the voice and appearance of someone or something familiar. If Satan can get you to believe that there is another way other than the way Almighty God says in His word, then he’s got a foothold in your life. (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 11:14)

Astrology and those that serve creation

First you have those that serve creation—wicca and white magic, which no matter what they say, it is still a power apart from God, so it is still of the devil and he loves the deception he has them under. They have no power when compared to God, however! Astrology thinks that the stars guide our lives and we should search them for answers. But why look at the stars for our answers, when we can look to the very One that made those stars? (Isaiah 47:12-13) 

Rebellion

The sin of “witchcraft” is seeking to manipulate events, people, or the future by spirits, entities, or by the spirits of the departed dead (Lev. 19:26; Deut 28:9-14). Rebellion against God’s word is similar to this sin in that both involve a rejection of Christ’s Lordship and an attempt to determine the outcome of things in a manner other than God’s way.  (1 Samuel 15:23)

The consequences of these actions

There are consequences for believers and non-believers alike for dabbling with these practices of darkness. These sins of darkness take the transgressor out from under God’s protection and put him/her under the destructive power of Satan and evil spirits.  

For the Christian

The believer in Christ will experience broken fellowship with Christ, depression (but not always the cause of demonic activity), anxiety, paranoia, sickness (but not always the cause of demonic activity), paranormal experiences and oppression. Although a believer can be oppressed, they cannot be possessed. Scriptures teach that no true believer who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit can be demon possessed; that is, the Spirit and demons can never dwell the same body (Matt. 12:43-45; 2 Cor. 6:15-16). Demons may, however, influence the thoughts, emotions and actions of Christians who fail to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 16:23; 2 Cor 11:3, 14). 

For the non-believer

The non-believer does not have the Holy Spirit to protect them at all. That means the evil spirits can cause a lot more harm. They can influence thoughts, emotions and actions, but they can also be afflicted with sickness, depression, anxiety, paranoia, experience paranormal activity, be attacked and also possessed by a demon. The end result for all non-believers is total separation from God. Those that practice sins of darkness will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). But then there’s the answer of Jesus Christ!

The real power and victory are in Jesus Christ

There is a Captain of the Hosts of Heaven that can and will defeat any foe that is trying to take you down! Jesus Christ made everything, including Satan and demons—angels that rebelled and fell (Colossians 1:15-16). Why go to something made by Christ for power when you can go straight to Christ who is all powerful (Ephesians 1:17-23)? Satan and all demons will have to kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11)!

Christ’s power can be in you!

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and into our lives, He lives within us. We become born-again and saved. That makes us very powerful in His power (1 John 4:4). Scripture emphasizes that the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer (1 Cor 6:19-20). Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the evil in the world, including sin, Satan, trials, temptation, sorrow, persecution and false teaching, and we can victoriously achieve God’s will for our lives. Here is the key: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).