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Is God Pleased With The Occult? by Fred Russell
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Tim. 4:1-2).
Unfortunately, this sobering statement has not been taken too seriously by many professing Christians and some are now departed “from the faith” and following “doctrines of devils” or demons.
Apparently, many of these believers did not believe it was possible that they could be deceived and led away from their “firm foundation” of Jesus Christ. Therefore, because of their lack of understanding of the spiritual warfare that Christians are up against, their guard was down and they were open to subtle Satanic attack.
As a result, they have become one of the victims of Satan deceptions who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).
This is why in another passage, the Holy Spirit said, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).
From these New Testament verses it should be obvious that God has some very good reasons for telling His children to beware of false teachers. Those teachers who say things that are contrary to “sound doctrine” and/or follow Occult practices which the Scriptures condemn.
These “doctrines of devils” come through the mouths of men and women and it is through these “false prophets” that Satan is able to “devour” God’s people and get them away from following Jesus Christ.
Satan nearly always comes transformed as “an angel of light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14-15).
Having looked briefly at some of the New Testament passages on false prophets and how these men and women are used as pawns of the devil to destroy mens lives; it is important to consider some of the Occult practices which are also condemned in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 18
The passage that gives the best comprehensive list of the various Occult practices condemned by God is found in Deuteronomy 18:9-14.
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or 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. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, harkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”
All of these forbidden practices are called “abominations of those nations” in the land and dealt with either foretelling the future or magic.
Magic
“By the use of magic one attempted to manipulate of force the `gods’ into certain courses of action. Child sacrifice was mentioned here because it was used either as a means of foretelling or as magic to manipulate certain events” (Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 296).
All of the practices mentioned above are forbidden in both the Old and New Testaments.
They are an abomination to God because they usurp His position as the sovereign Lord of the universe and open the door for Satanic deception, and eventually, the destruction of those involved is these things.
Several factors are involved in the reason why the Lord is so opposed to these practices:
(1) Using magic to manipulate one’s circumstances is in essence a futile attempt to flee the Lord’s ethical laws which promote life and blessing.
(2) The use of magic and divination (vv. 10, 14) is a refusal to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord in ones life.
(3) Reliance on these practices automatically teaches one to trust in themselves for their destiny and not the Lord.
This is very dangerous since these practices will almost inevitably lead one into satanic bondage.
Defining Terms
Here are the meanings of the Occult practices that are mentioned in this passage of Scripture as explained in the Bible Knowledge Commentary.
“Divination (vv. 10, 14), from the verb qasam, (`to divide’) means to give false prophecy or seek to determine the will of the gods by examining and interpreting omens. (“Qasam” is also used in Josh. 13:22; 2 Kg. 17:17; Isa. 3:2; 44:25; Jer. 27:9).
“Sorcery (`an observer of times,’ KJV) (anan, Lev. 19:26; Isa. 2:6) is the attempt to control people or circumstances through power given by evil spirits (demons).
“To interpret omens (`enchanter,’ KJV) is to tell the future based on `signs’ such as the movement of birds, fire, or rain.
“Witchcraft (`witch,’ KJV) involves practicing magic by incantations.
“One who cast spells (`charmer,’ KJV) is literally `one who ties knots,’ thus one who binds other people by magical mutterings.
“A spiritualist (`wizard,’ KJV) is one who supposedly communicates with the dead but who actually communicates with demons.
“One who consults the dead (`necromancer,’ KJV) may mean the spiritist’s attempt to contact the dead to gain advice, information on the future, or help in manipulation” (Ibid).
Today’s Society
Now with the above definitions in mind it should be easy to see how these Occult practices are still in use today.
Pass through the fire (v. 10), or sacrificing one’s firstborn child to a god is still practiced today by Satanist and other groups such as pagan tribes.
Divination involves such things as water-witching or using a diviners rod to find water, gold, oil or other precious minerals. Fortune Telling which can involve Tarot Cards, Crystal Balls or Ouija Boards.
Sorcery or an observer of times is seen today in the belief in astrology and other like pseudo-scientific practices that look to the stars as their guide.
The use of omens is becoming more and more accepted as people return to the world view of paganism and the New Age Movement.
Many are now practicing witches who cast spells over others so as to have power over them.
Those people who cast spells or charmers are involved in snake charming, rod and pendulum, chants to remove warts, burns and other ailments and those who practice mind over matter.
The world is literally filled with those who are consulters with familiar spirits, spiritist and necromancers or one who consults the dead. Today they go by different names such as “trans-channelers,” “channelers,” “trans-mediums” and other names.
In every case they are either deceived into thinking that they are actually contacting the dead; are deceiving their followers to make them think that they are contacting the dead; or actually contacting the spirit realm and demons who impersonate the dead and tell them things that only the dead person could know.
These spirits are called “familiar spirits” because they are familiar with the life of the dead person. They observed them from the spirit realm in which time has no limitations while they were alive.
It should be clear by now that if a person is involved in any of these things, even as a passive observer, they should repent and denounce all they have done before God. Turning to Jesus Christ, asking Him for forgiveness and forsaking all of these accursed practices.
http://www.watchman.org/occult/fred.htm
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