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Included in things of the occult are precognition (or fortune-telling),
ESP, telepathy, clairvoyance, automatic writing, ouija boards and other games
that claim a magical or demonically spiritual orientation, astrology, horoscopes,
tea leaf reading, palmistry, techniques of mind expansion, drugs, hypnotism, mind
control, transcendental meditation, yoga, sorcery or witchcraft, physical phenomena,
telekinesis, levitation, astral projection, spiritism, seances and satanism, animal
and human sacrifices, animism, etc.
In natural and spiritual history, a
society degenerates according to a pattern. It goes from a diminishing God-centered
spiritual life, to legalism, to materialism, to liberalism, to seeking life's
answers outside the Bible, and then to spiritism, couched in the occult. Occultism
often involves drugs, idolatry and sexual perversion.
Even as we are besieged
with the many forms and avenues of satanic influence, we have the absolute authority,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, to bind the powers of darkness and dispel them.
They must do our bidding as we speak "in the name of Jesus." (Matthew 16:19,
18:18; Mark 16:17; Luke 10:18-19; Ephesians 1:17-23)
What Scripture Says
"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices
his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets
omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist
or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord,
and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those
nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy
18:10-13)
"So I will come near to you for judgement. I will be quick to
testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud
laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive
aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty." (Malachi 3:5)
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit
the kingdom of God." (Galations 5:19-21)
"Do not allow a sorceress to
live." (Exodus 22:18) This was the Old Testament means of eliminating a
practice and manifestation of the enemy, Satan.
"The Spirit of the Lord is
on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent
me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke
4:18,19)
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the
sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars -
their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
(Revelation 21:8)
How to be Free
If you have been involved
in occultism in any form - even if you have only read about it - renounce any
specific occult activity and occultism in general. Repent of your belief in and
practice of the occult. It is sin and an abomination to God. Ask forgiveness of
God. He will deliver you, save you and lead you into truth. (Romans 10:13,
1 John 1:8,9; John 1:12; Romans 6:23; John 16:13)
You need the baptism with the Holy Spirit to have an overcoming victorious
life. The Holy Spirit warns you concerning what is of sin and what is of God.
(John 16:7-11) By faith repent and put your faith in Christ for salvation.
(Romans 10:9,10,13) By faith, also ask the Lord to baptize you (fill you)
with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13) It is the Holy Spirit who gives the
ability to stay free from the deception and spiritual bondage of occultism.
Replace
occult books, magazines, etc. with the Bible and Christian reading matter. Seek
Christian fellowship and practice Christian living. A complete break with occultism
is necessary.
If you have attempted to pray to God, change your life, or cease
occult or associated activities, but have discovered an inability to do so, you
may need further help. God has equipped Christians to minister to you. You do
not have to remain in spiritual bondage. Contact your local pastor to help you
locate a Christian counselor whose ministry includes deliverance from spiritual
bondage.
As You Pray
As you ask forgiveness and God's help, thank
and praise Him for His assurance of deliverance from the occult. As you commit
your life to God, ask Him to lead you to those Christians who are capable of helping
you in your need.
References/Homework
"Saturate"
yourself with Scriptures. Begin with the gospel according to John. Then read the
rest of the New Testament. Acquire a Bible study guide. Get into a Holy Spirit-led
fellowship. Learn about Jesus and get serious with God. You will recognize the
counterfeit when you know the real God.
Defeated Enemies, by Corrie
ten Boom
Demons in the Word Today, by Merrill Unger
The Devil's
Alphabet, by Kurt Koch
His Infernal Majesty, by Dave Breese.
Occult
abominations (Deuteronomy 18:9-22)
Example of God's power over
occultism (Acts 13:6-12)
Occultism exposed (Jeremiah 27:9,10)
The document code of this teaching sheet is TS54.
Scripture references are
taken form the New American Standard translation of the Bible.