Shun the Appearance of Evil
READ: Deuteronomy 18:9-12
Let's begin also with this: First John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.”
We're rolling deep now! The Bible has a lot to say about this area. Witchcraft and its many cousins, such as fortune-telling and necromancy (consulting the dead), are Satan’s counterfeits to holy spirituality. The Bible expressly condemns all forms of witchcraft. Since early times, people have sought supernatural experiences God did not endorse. The nations that surrounded the Promised Land were saturated with such practices, and God had stern words for His people concerning any involvement with them. God takes witchcraft very seriously, and so should we. Some of the modern day practices that are trendy right now are forms of this. Consulting the "ancestors" and "tapping into" this, is strongly discouraged. I share this because I love you and I've heard to many testimonies of people's lives being destroyed because they ignorantly opened themselves up to things. Every so often, I go on YouTube and watch testimonies of people coming out of things like eastern meditative practices, witchcraft, and new age religions, and who have found Jesus. It's important to do so because we must continue to remember that everything that glitters is not gold and not everything that is "enlightening" is light.
What does the Bible say?
According to GotQuestions.org, in the New Testament, “sorcery” is translated from the Greek word pharmakeia, from which we get our word pharmacy (Galatians 5:20; Revelation 18:23). Witchcraft and spiritism often involve the ritualistic use of magic potions and mind-controlling drugs. Using illicit drugs can open ourselves up to the invasion of demonic spirits. Engaging in a practice or taking a substance to achieve an altered state of consciousness is a form of witchcraft. There are only two sources of spiritual power: God and Satan.
A few of the questions I often ask or will research before I jump on the band wagon of anything:
What is the root?
What was the original purpose for why this was created?
Where did it come from (origin)?
Who is the source?
Satan has only the power that God allows him to have, but it is considerable (Job 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:2). To seek spirituality, knowledge, or power apart from God is idolatry, closely related to witchcraft. Witchcraft is Satan’s realm, and he excels in counterfeiting what God does. When Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh, the magicians did the same things through demonic power (Exodus 8:7). At the heart of witchcraft is the desire to know the future and control events that are not ours to control. (This included, and is not limited to, seeking psychics and tarot card readings. Those abilities belong only to the Lord). This desire to "know and control" has its roots in Satan’s first temptation to Eve: “You can be like God” (Genesis 3:5). Since the Garden of Eden, Satan’s major focus has been to divert human hearts away from worship of the true God (Genesis 3:1). He entices humans with the suggestions of power, self-realization, and spiritual enlightenment apart from submission to the Lord God. Witchcraft is merely another branch of that enticement. To become involved in witchcraft in any way is to enter Satan’s realm. Seemingly “harmless” modern entanglements with witchcraft can include horoscopes, Ouija boards, Eastern meditation rituals, and some video and role-playing games. Any practice that dabbles in a power source other than the Lord Jesus Christ is witchcraft.
(Disclaimer: I felt this in my spirit to include to encourage you to use wisdom and discernment when participating in social media challenges. Don't just jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it". In other words, don't follow the crowd.)
We don’t need to fear Satan’s power, but we should respect it and stay away. We should give him no foothold or access to our lives. First John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.” Satan can create much havoc, harm, and destruction, even in the lives of believers. However, if we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no power that can ultimately defeat us (Isaiah 54:17). We are overcomers (1 John 5:4) as we “put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). When we give our lives to Christ, we must repent. This repentance should include renouncing any involvement with witchcraft, following the example of the early believers in Acts 19:19.
It's super important to do a clean sweep of what is in your house. If you have been having demonic attacks in your sleep, pray and ask God to show you what you need to get rid of. I know people who had occultic books that they didn't realize, objects/jewelry that people gave them, etc. And, if you have crystals, I highly recommend you take those things and PITCH THEM into the ocean! Don't just take my word, seek God and ask Him to reveal to you. Amen? (Joshua 24:15) Isaiah 8:19 says, “When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” When we follow those words to their logical conclusion, we could also ask, “Why seek any power apart from the source of all real power? Why seek spirits who are not the Holy Spirit?” Witchcraft and its many counterparts promise spirituality but lead only to emptiness and death (Micah 5:12; Galatians 5:19–21). Only Jesus has the words of life (John 6:68).
TODAY: Renounce witchcraft. If you have been dabbling with crystals, opening chakras, and anything spiritual where Jesus Christ is not involve, repent. Ask the Lord to close any open doors given to the enemy. Clean house, and throw away anything that gives the essence of the above mentioned.
Until next time,
