DEMONS AND OCCULT
Could anything be more mysterious than the question of the unseen spirit world? The existence of these spiritual beings is a mystery to people on this earth for a long, long time. Do Angels (God’s agents) really exist? Is there, in fact, a Satan the Devil and demons (Devil’s agents)? Is Satan a literal, immortal being? If we can unravel these mysteries it will be a boon for the entire mankind.
Mankind is trying all along to establish the existence or to be precise the non existence of these forces, with the help of the best possible scientific instruments available as on today. But it is proving to be a mirage for the whole scientific world, because these undetectable forces are neither physical in nature nor do they leave any signatures which could be detected.
GOD’S INVISIBLE AGENTS:
In Job 38:4, 7, God is speaking specifically of the creation of this earth. He says all the angels shouted for joy at the creation of the earth. This reveals that angels were created before the creation of the earth and probably before the material universe. The suns, planets and astral bodies are material substances. Angels are individually created spirit beings, composed solely of spirit.
Why were these invisible spiritual beings created before all else? Why were they created even prior to the creation of physical matter and the physical universe? Why were they created at all?
From eternity God was supreme. God sat on the throne of all that existed or was to exist. In the 25th chapter of Exodus, we find an earthly description of the very throne of God in heaven. On either side of God’s throne was an archangel, a cherub, whose wings stretched out covering the very throne of God. This signifies that these angels were involved in the very administration of the government of God over all of God’s creation. They were aides, ministers, servants, assisting God.
God has had angels specifically assigned to supervise and protect his Church throughout all of its history (Rev. 1:4, 16, 20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). He has angels who continually walk through the earth to observe and report back to him the overall conditions on earth (Zech. 4:10; II Chron. 16:9; Rev. 5:6). And God has angels specifically assigned to look after his begotten human children (Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:15). God promises: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Ps. 91:11).
Twelve of God’s angels will be the gatekeepers in the new city of Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12). Angels are messengers. They appeared to Abraham, Lot, Hagar, Moses, Manoah, Gideon, Elijah and many of the prophets and apostles. God assigns angels responsibilities, but God created within them power to think, to reason, to make choices and decisions.
ORIGIN OF DEVIL:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. This first verse of the Bible actually speaks of the original physical creation in its entirety, the universe, including the earth, perhaps millions of years ago; as a perfect creation, beautiful and perfect. As far as its creation was concerned, it was a finished and completed work, because God is a perfectionist!
A group of angels with a leader was put in charge of this earth with all the pre-historic creatures even before mankind was created. But when the leader of this group out of pride wanted to become like God or equal with God, had rebelled against God and sought to overthrow God, but failed and was cast out to become Satan, the adversary. After creating humans God transferred the power and authority to them to rule the earth, and subdue it (Gen. 1:27-30). Therefore out of vengeance and contempt, he led Adam and Eve to sin. When Adam chose to obey the Devil instead of God, he, in effect, gave his dominion over the earth and all that was in it to Satan. This is how Satan became “the god of this world” again. This is why the Devil has a “right of access” to every living being.
His existence is taught both in the Old and New Testament books. Most of the teachings about Satan in the gospels were by Christ himself. This Satan is referred to as the devil, asura, saitan etc in other religions.
Satan (Zech 3:1; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 12:9; 20:2), used 52 times, comes from the Hebrew word satan meaning adversary. Devil (Matt. 4:1; 13:39; Eph. 4:27; Rev. 12:9-10; 20:2), used 35 times, comes from the Greek word diabolos meaning slanderer or accuser. Evil one (Matt. 13:19, 38; John 17:15; Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:18, 19) describes him as the personification of evil. Serpent (Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9; 20:2) portrays his deceit and craftiness. Dragon (Rev. 12:3, 7, 9) indicates his fierce nature and power to destroy. Tempter (Matt. 4:3; I Thes 3:5). Deceiver (Rev. 12:9; 20:3). Murderer (John 8:44). Liar (John 8:44). Sinner (1 John 3:8). Ruler of the demons (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15). Belial (2 Cor. 6:15) means worthless or wicked. Satan also transforms himself into an angel of light to deceive the world (2 Cor. 11:14). Roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8) describes him as hungry and on the prowl to devour Christians.
SATAN IS RULING:
Though Satan is subject to the limitations of being a creature, and hence he is neither, omni-potent, omni-present, omnificent or omniscient like God, nor is he holy, loving and merciful as God, but always mimicking to be one. However he heads a great kingdom of evil which consists of the demons and his earthly agents who are physically dead or alive.
The New Testament refers to him as the god of this age (2 Cor 4:4), the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), and the ruler of this world (John 12:31). Jesus identifies Satan with Beelzebub, prince of the demons (Luke 11:14-23). In addition, his human followers are the sons of the wicked one (Matt 13:38), ministers of Satan (2 Cor 11:15), the synagogue of Satan (Rev 2:9), and the children of the devil (1 John 3:10). He exercised authority over the rulers of Persia (Dan 10:12, 13). In Ephesians 6:12 he is pictured as heading a well-organized army of spiritual agents.
The terms principalities, powers, rulers of this darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness (Eph 6:12) denote the ranks in his army. Through them he implements his will. Just as a competent general can impose a high degree of control over his army and through his troops carry out his program over a vast area; the devil can rule his worldwide kingdom of darkness.
Although he cannot personally work in every human soul, he influences multitudes of them, with the help of his demonic followers; through a system of thought that the Bible calls it “the world”, which can exploit the sinful nature of the fallen mankind.
Paul declared that before we came to Christ we were dead in trespasses and sins, walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh (Eph. 2:1-3). When people willfully choose evil, they become the “children of the devil” (John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10). Thus multitudes of people either knowingly or unknowingly help Satan in his role as “the god of this world”.
John wrote: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:15-16).
The devil’s power over mankind, though limited by God’s permissive and directive will, is fearful. He and his evil spirits can assume visible forms (Matt 4, Luke 4); cause blindness (Matt 12:22), paralysis (Acts 8:7), and convulsions (Luke 9:39); induce self-destructive or bizarre behavior (Luke 8:27; Matt 17:15); compel animals to destroy themselves (Matt 8:28-34); create powerful illusions (Ex 7:11, 12); and perform signs and wonders (Matt 24:24).
Evil spirits have the power to directly influence our health, moods, imagination, and thoughts. For example, it is sobering to read that “Satan entered Judas” (Luke 22:3) and led him to betray Christ and finally commit suicide. And it is frightening to read about the horrible condition of the two demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28, 29.
We must not make the mistake of minimizing Satan’s power or denying the reality of his kingdom of evil. But we must also avoid the error of giving in to despair. Moreover, the Christian who submits to God and resists the devil can make him to flee (James 4:7).
DEVOURING VICTIMS:
Ludwig Staudenmaier was a German scientist who accepted the idea that the devil was only a “myth,” a “personification of repressed, unconscious drives.” After completing his doctoral work in chemistry, zoology, and theology, he became obsessed with a desire to explore the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural, to allow the natural sciences to determine as accurately as possible the distinction between pathology and actual satanic manifestations.
At the suggestion of a friend, Staudenmaier began experimenting with the psychic technique known as “automatic writing”, a phenomenon in which the subject learns to place himself into a trance, permitting unseen forces to write messages through his hand. He soon became quite adept at automatic writing, even though he considered what he wrote, to be the product of his subconscious mind.
Soon, however, he was disturbed by hallucinations, which rapidly increased in both their frequency and severity. One night as he lay in his bed, he had the distinct feeling of a chain being fastened around his neck and tightened. Then came the strong odor of sulfur and a sinister voice saying, “you are now my captive, I will never free you, I am the devil”.
Although still clinging to his scientific perspective, Staudenmaier began to have second thoughts about his venture. He wrote: There remains in my soul no doubt that according to a naive medical perspective I have become possessed. Therefore, only two alternatives remain: Either I am on the brink of understanding the puzzle of human existence from a new and entirely novel perspective, or I am a fool who has thrown away years of time, health, and perhaps even life itself. He continued to be tormented by hallucinations until he died some years later in Rome. Staudenmaier’s experience is not unique. People of every culture have sensed or encountered the reality of a personal, supernatural, evil, spirit being.
Satan is an inhuman, merciless fiend whose ultimate goal is the destruction of the human race. It is for this that Satan desires all to be his own followers. His dream is of the day when all shall be inside him and all that says “I” can say it only through him.
SATAN’S DISGUISE:
Paul warns us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). This is necessarily so, since anyone would flee from him if they sensed his true nature. A master of disguise, Satan appears in many forms to conceal the truth of the incarnation.
Though Carl Jung, the founder of the Jungian School of Psychology, vehemently denied incarnation, but he embraced the reincarnation theory on the authority of figures who spoke to him in his visions and dreams. Popularization of the practices such as channeling and astral projection are nothing but the occultist practices that have been widespread for a long time.
The deception in believing in reincarnation is twofold. Since there is no sobering fear of judgment for our actions before a holy God, it encourages people to be completely self-serving. If every experience in life is just a lesson we need to learn then we are accountable to no one. We then rationalize: what does it matter if we hurt others, betray our families and friends, indulge our every whim: we can chalk these things up to just another experience to learn from. This is where the deception comes to play, and where the devil plays at our ego.
The degenerate pop idols of the 1970s and the 1980s offer no message except self-indulgence and rebellion. Using a great deal of satanic imagery, these “artists” advocate and model such destructive behavior as drug abuse, promiscuous sex, and violence. Claiming no responsibility for the image they project, they have inspired younger and weaker souls to molestation, mutilation, murder, and suicide.
Satan’s kingdom works through sinister figures like Emperor Nero, Adolf Hitler all of whom were deeply involved with occultism. He also deceives people through innocent-appearing means by tempting us with many things that are not evil in themselves. Wealth, property, fame, power, family, friends, science, art, and even religion can become false gods if they distract us from an understanding of our loving Creator as He has revealed Himself in Christ.
Similarly if we think that Halloween is just harmless fun, we are an unwitting participant in a world-wide deception of staggering proportions. Deception is the stock and trade of hell’s angels and they have, over a long period of time, lulled this world to sleep and have it set up for the ultimate deception. Satan’s agenda has been well served by staying behind a cloak of superstition and secrecy.
Lord Jesus placed heavy emphasis on the deceitful nature of the devil. In a confrontation with the Pharisees, He declared that their inability to recognize the truth was due to the fact that they were allied with the devil. John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The devil has woven his lies throughout the world. The biggest lie of all is that, there are many paths to God. Satan lies with half-truths. There are many paths to the god of hell, who happens to be Satan. But there is only one path to the God of heaven: the God who even created Satan before he was thrown out of heaven. That path is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who died on the Cross personally and painfully for each of us.
SATAN IS ACCUSING US:
In Revelation 12:10 the devil is portrayed as the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night. The Greek word for devil (diabolos) means slanderer or false accuser. The classic statement on the role of Satan as the great accuser is found in the book of Job (1:6-12; 2:1-5). And in the vision recorded in Zechariah 3:1-10, Satan is standing at the right hand of Joshua to make accusation against him. God apparently allowed him this privilege so that His grace to sinners might be magnified.
Because he hates those who don’t believe his lie, Satan is an accuser of Christ and all who follow Him. Because he denies the goodness of God’s creation, we can expect him to place the worst possible interpretation on any act of faith and obedience. Since Satan’s accusing spirit is duplicated in the fleshly nature of every person, obedient Christians are exposed to constant accusation from within and without (Rom 7:13-25).
The devil shares his character with all who join him in doubting the goodness of God. People who resist the truth and thus become the children of the devil, get so warped and twisted in soul that even the best actions of God’s people are often perceived as being rooted in evil.
We see this trait of fallen man illustrated in the Pharisees’ attitude toward Jesus Christ. They called the sinless Son of God a drunkard, a glutton, a friend of immoral people, a violator of the law, a sorcerer, an insurrectionist and a blasphemer.
Anyone who has felt the force of the accuser’s power realizes how helpless we are to resist his temptations and accusations in our own strength. Each of us is so compromised by sin and impure motives that we can be confused, paralyzed, and even driven to despair when we are exposed to the merciless attack of either the fleshly nature within or demonic accusations without. If it were not for the saving and interceding role of Christ, we would quickly succumb to the charges of our accusing enemy.
SATAN IS FIGHTING US:
We should not expect to walk with Christ without a fight for our faith. A life of faith in Jesus Christ is a life of conflict. Jesus referred to the devil as our enemy (Matt. 13:39; Luke 10:19), and he is also called our adversary (1 Pet. 5:8). As such, he hates God’s people and tries to destroy them. He does this with a strategy of infiltration, neutralization, and destruction.
Major operations among the believers are: discouraging them from reading and studying the Word of God, and thereby making them ignorant of their authority and of the promises of God. In crusade grounds these agents of devil would be sent to cause disagreements and quarrels.
After the preaching these demons in disguise would come out for the altar call, pretend to have received Christ and would be prayed for. At the end of the fellowship or service they would hang around waiting for the preacher who naturally would be very happy for these new converts. These converts may even follow the preacher to his house. If the preacher does not have the spirit of discernment they would lure him into the sin of fornication.
If someone leaves the occult and decides to come to Christ, invariably they are being troubled, pursued and even threatened with dire consequences. They are even woken up in the odd hours and made to go to burial grounds or even to a lonely place for this purpose. But for the protection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they would be even killed. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of God shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59: 19).
PLANTING COUNTERFEITS:
Jesus warned us that our enemy, the devil, plants false Christians among the true (Matt 13:24-30). Some of these false brethren (2 Cor. 11:26) directly attack true believers. Others try to introduce a false, ritualistic gospel within the organized church (Gal 1:6-9). Still others, either from within the church or through a cult, teach a counterfeit righteousness (Rom 10:1-3).
Jesus called these tares, the sons of the wicked one, declaring that the one who sows them is the devil (Matt 13:38, 39). It is impossible to cleanse the church completely of its enemy agents. If you find a spirit of pride and willfulness, be careful. Apply the Word of God with humility and gentleness (Matt 18:15-17; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; 2 Pet. 2; 1 John 4:1-6).
Satan has a counterfeit spirituality that he is offering as a substitute for Biblical spirituality. Just as a Christian must open up his or her soul to the control of the Holy Spirit in order to be Biblically Spiritual, so a person must open up his or her soul to the control of the evil spirits to be Devilish.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
SATAN IS POSSESSING:
Demonic possession is often the term used to describe the control over a human soul by a demon. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include: erased memories or personalities, convulsions, fits and fainting as if one were dying. The subject has no control over the possessing entity and so it will persist until forced to leave the victim, usually through a form of exorcism. The basic symptoms are violence, lust, greed, and an unnatural power of persuasion. Other descriptions include access to hidden knowledge and foreign languages, drastic changes in vocal intonation and facial structure, sudden appearance of injury scratches, bite marks or lesions and superhuman strength.
The gospels record many instances in which the devil or his demons took control of a victim’s personality. In the New Testament, People in Jerusalem (Act 5:16), in Samaria (Act 8:7), in Philippi (Act 16:16-18) and in Ephesus (Act19:11,12) possessed by demons. Ananias is an illustration of being controlled by unholy spirits (Acts 5:3). Nobel scientist Sir John Eccles said of the human soul that it was a machine that a ghost can operate.
Millions of people are opening up their souls to ghosts (unholy spirits) through altered states of consciousness(ASC). ASC is the deliberate cultivation of abnormal states of consciousness developed through a specific technique. In fact it may involve everything from hypnosis and other trance states to possession states (as mediumism and shamanism) to altered states that are characteristically pathological (as in kundalini arousal and shamanism), to direct visualization and imagery, lucid dreaming, drug-induced states of consciousness, meditation and bio-feedback-induced consciousness, and many others.
Many proponents of ASC claim that altered states allegedly produce a ‘higher’ state of consciousness or ‘being’ including dramatic spiritualistic revelations, psychic powers, personality alterations, and a ‘positive’ reconstructing of the participant’s worldview along Asian lines. But, ASC’s are not all they are cracked up to be. In fact, many cases of temporary and permanent insanity, spirit contact, occult transformation and spirit possession have resulted. Just because one does not believe in God or in the devil, doesn’t stop devil from having a grip on such people.
OCCULT:
The occult is a broad term referring to activities that seek or use knowledge and/or power from sources other than God. Examples of occult are sorcery, astrology, magic, witchcraft, palm-reading, fortunetelling, false religions, astral projection, mind control and spell-casting. Any involvement with the occult can become an entry point for spiritual oppression in our lives.
The term occult means hidden and, in a spiritual context, relates to Satan worship. Occult practices are associated with specific symbols and paraphernalia. The symbols include such things as the five-pointed star and the goat’s head. Occult paraphernalia includes candles and blood. The blood is usually animal but can be human. The star, or pentagram, is often drawn on the floor with burning candles set at each point.
INTEREST IN WITCHCRAFT:
The modern witch does not fit the stereotype of the old hag, for many people who are practicing this art are in the mainstream of society. The question is why? Why a renewed interest in this ancient art among both the educated and the ignorant?
The first and most important motivation any occult has is rebellion. God’s Word tells us this in 1 Samuel 15:23, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Many people, especially young people, enjoy rebelling against authority. God represents the ultimate authority to them, and the occult gods seem to offer a great deal of freedom - no laws, no set beliefs, it is a religion they can make up as they go along.
Another reason is the lure of the new. We live in a throwaway society where old things are considered worthless. Occultism is ever-changing; becoming whatever the practitioner wants it to be at any given moment and so, unlike a formal religion, can change with the fashion of the day. They may worship Woden today, but they can worship Ra tomorrow, as they please. Occultism remains forever new because it has no base to draw upon; only the practitioner themselves.
As per reincarnation theory every experience in life is just lessons they need to learn hence they are accountable to none, and the occult gods seem to offer a great deal of freedom. Homosexuals, feminists and fornicators find God’s laws not to their liking and may be attracted to religions which do not recognize them as sin.
Peer pressure and influence is another powerful motive. In recent years there has been a wealth of occult and wiccan themes in popular TV shows such as “Charmed” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”; in films such as “The Craft” and in books like “Harry Potter” and the teenager’s series called “Wicca” by Cate Tiernan as well as quasi-historical books like “Witch Child” by Celia Rees. Many of these books are aimed at teenagers, and this has led to a boom among teenagers for witchcraft.
Ecological awareness and love of nature has been growing since the 1960s, and is a major concern to many young people. With its worship of the earth as a god, occultism seems to offer an ecologically friendly religion. Christianity has been sadly lax in its care for the earth, considering it to be merely something for man to do as he likes with rather than a creation of God to be tended for Him. The delayed acknowledgement of this by Christians gave occults the chance to implant an image of Christianity as a selfish and destructive religion which should not be true.
Love of art and culture is another strong motivation for some people. Occultism taps into and makes use of folk tales, legends and songs in their worship. Most people - particularly in the UK - grow up with tales of ancient gods and goddesses such as Woden and Thor, the Greek pantheon and most especially the Celtic gods. Ancient legends and folktales contain reference to mystical figures such as Arthur, witches, wizards and fairies, as well as old tales about ancient gods. For an occult to make use of these tales taps into a feeling of nostalgia as well as giving a cultural base to people often confused by increasing globalization.
Today, in a massive spin-off from the culture-wide interest in the occult, this has changed. Tens of thousands across the world, some of them with university degrees are dabbling in witchcraft, satanism, voodoo, and other forms of black and white magic. Witches appear openly on television. Every high school is said to have its own witch. In Cleveland they rent a witch to liven up a party. There are some 80,000 persons practicing white magic in the United States, with 6,000 in Chicago alone.
Many, if not, most spiritually sensitive women in the women’s movement are willing to replace the biblical God with a frankly occult and polytheistic approach. Witchcraft is aiding the women in their search for roots and rituals without the connotations of evil usually associated with witchcraft. The goddess movement, also called the women-spirit movement, apparently considers the ancient Mediterranean world, occult Europe, Native America and Hindu tradition are all sources for goddess imagery “goddess consciousness”.
There is the eternal appeal of magic, the promise, however muted, that there are secrets available that will give a person power, money, love, and all those things he or she desires but cannot seem to obtain. Here is a set of beliefs that claim to be part of an extremely ancient religion. The religion in which drugs and free sexuality are not condemned, but encouraged.
BOUND FOR GENERATIONS:
A group of friends started playing with ouija boards. They could contact the supposed spirits of the dead through demons, without their realizing. This seemed like a fun thing to do but it wasn’t long after this that they started waking up in the middle of the night because someone was choking them. There would be a female presence in the bedroom at these times. This was a nightmare that for years they would wake up terrified.
They were tormented with full of negative thoughts and could not fully understand what was going on. The nights were the worst. This led to despair, depression, anxiety, confusion, anger, self-pity, self-hatred and suicidal thoughts; because of a demon sitting on their shoulders telling them how worthless they are and that the only way to escape their pain is through death.
Occult practices usually have two main objectives: supernatural knowledge concerning the future, and power, which the occultist seeks to gain through manipulation of supernatural forces and beings. Demons can be most accommodating, and will cheerfully provide these occults the knowledge and the power they aspire, but it removes that individual from God’s protection.
Thus Satan the prince of this earth binds them and these psychic habits very often get passed on to their children and will most likely get passed onto to their children’s children as well. Curses often manifesting in different forms of addictions which many have been inherited from their bloodline can be holding them in bondage for generations.
SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION:
The danger in psychic phenomena is that it presents a possible reality outside of God’s authority. By putting their faith in occultism and occult powers by inviting the demons into their lives, they are sowing seeds of destruction for themselves. It can lead them to an emotionally unstable, insecure condition and the possibility of obsession.
Occultic induction consists of a system of verbal and nonverbal manipulation to lead a person into a heightened state of suggestibility, a condition in which one will believe almost anything. And the soul loses its ability to distinguish between fact and fantasy (truth and error). Satan can and does take advantage of the opportunity. Innocent and ignorant people are being dragged to ouija board, astrology, tea-leaf reading, rod and pendulum, dungeons and dragons, séances, palmistry, crystal balls, tarot cards, magic, spells, charms, potions, zodiac and mediums etc.
This psychic realm and goddess-based beliefs as well as drug use leads to the psychiatric illness: characterized by both manic and depressive episodes. Most of the people who worked as psychics, healers, and other new-agers are the victims of addictions and mental illnesses (depression and anxiety).
Even the most common means, counselors use in uncovering the past apart from psychoanalysis is hypnotism. Hypnotism brings a person into altered states of consciousness. Mental illness, drug addiction and the occult are very much linked. Drugs alter our perception and is a form of witchcraft. Indeed many pagan religions use drugs and altered states to connect to the spirit realm. Many people who have mental illness are well aware of the spiritual realm and they experience demons, angels and many other things as part of the confusion of the condition.
Asian gurus have flooded the market with transcendental meditation and yoga. Courses in TM, witchcraft and parapsychology are being offered for credit at numerous schools and colleges. Their doctrines of karma and reincarnation have been embraced by millions. They claim to be helping others, but actually fulfilling their own greed, pride, ambitions and selfishness. The force of denial is so powerful, especially when the ego is being fed with status and glamour.
Those involved may believe they are appealing to various different forces, pagan or heathen deities, spirit of some dead person, Satan and demons. Some people knowingly attempt to appeal to demonic forces to work in their lives; others, such as in Wicca, do not believe Satan even exists.
Many people ignore who or what the power is. They simply learn certain rituals that they believe summon spirit forces to produce some end result. If they think they can obtain the desired goal, they do not care who the force is. Whenever people appeal to any spirit or supernatural power other than the God of the Bible to work in their lives that is the occult.
Witches may be men or women, pretty or ugly. They may distinguish white magic from black magic. Black magic means spells, incantations, curses, etc., intended to bring harm to someone. White magic uses spells, etc., to try to bring good fortune, such as producing rain, finding some lost object, bringing success in war or business, producing a good crop, etc. Some would tell us that white magic is good because it helps people.
A different form of witchcraft and sorcery is divination or soothsaying. This involves supernatural methods used to seek information that cannot be obtained by natural processes of study and investigation. But the source of the power is what makes them inherently evil, regardless of the intended goal. Witchcraft and every aspect of the occult are plainly condemned by God, because they are a counterfeit substitute for the power of God. Jer 10:15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
WORSHIPING IDOLS AND IMAGES:
Many people are so easily led away from the true God, into the worship of idols and images, because of visible, outward signs, with show, pageants, parades, have an attraction to the natural heart, which often fails to perceive the unseen spiritual realities. But the greatest attraction seems to have been in licentious revelries and obscene orgies with which the worship of the idols is observed.
This worship is appealing to every sensual passion, joined with the attractions of wealth, fashion and luxury, naturally was a great temptation to a simple, restrained, gullible people. Occultism is all about having power, control and indulgence. It’s ok to indulge in greed or lust and be the most obnoxious individual. To fulfill all these, the occultist can always talk to a demon and say, I bid you to do what I want because I belong to you and you belong to me.
Idolatry does not find any support from Hindu Vedas. In chapter 32 of Yajurveda it says that God is Supreme or The Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ or material shape. He cannot be seen directly by anyone. His name is so great that only the Name is enough to invoke Him. He pervades all beings and all directions.
Every time the Israelites started worshiping idols they came into captivity and bondage of their enemies and the Devil. Because God says, thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth below, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me (Exo 20:3-5). This includes all that we love and aspire more than God.
To attempt to seduce others to false worship is also a crime of equal enormity (Deu 13:6-10). To seek power and knowledge from supernatural sources other than God is in every sense to place other gods before Him. Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Thus Satan the prince of this earth binds them and their descendants to their eternal death.
CASTING OUT DEMONS:
Satan is so subtle, that he will never voluntarily quit his possession; It was plain that the doctrine of Christ made war upon the devil’s kingdom, and had a direct tendency to break his power, and crush his interest in the souls of men.
Psalm 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases. Not only did Jesus Christ cast out demons from the people but also gave he power to his disciples to do the same. They were to heal the sick, cast out demons and preach the gospel.
In Mar 9:25-28, Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out?
This is because, in the hierarchy of Devil’s kingdom, we may be able to overcome up to certain level but not all the levels, depending upon the spiritual maturity of the individual believer. The strength to subdue and defeat the enemy is not found in the natural; it is found in the Lord. The Bible commands us as believers to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Eph. 6:10). The Greek infers the command to be strengthened in Christ’s might, as is promised to the believer: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Eph.1:19).
If we recognize and acknowledge the real source of our strength, we won’t attempt to fight the forces of hell alone, for the power to subdue and defeat the enemy does not rest in our strength; it comes from the Lord. Luke 10:19 declares, “I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” We get this spiritual power by eating the spiritual food (hidden manna) from the Word of God through the Holy Spirit.
God has provided weapons to knock out all the tactics, the strategies, and the objectives of the satanic plan. The kingdom of darkness expects to see our soul blow up; instead, the tactic backfires in their face. 2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. God has promised never to forsake us or turn His back upon us. This is a revealed truth and because God cannot lie which is against His very nature it must be accepted as truth. God had not abandoned Job.
There is a system of casting out devil in the other religions also. Here Satan is not cast out; he only goes out by consent. There was nothing in the manner of Christ’s casting out devils.
DEMONS IN CHRISTIANS:
Christians have been brainwashed into thinking that they can’t have demons. They are taught their problems are the flesh, their sin nature, their personality, a test from God, all things work together for the glory of God etc. Most of this is the result of religious demons, the hardest ones to deal with. We know many Christians that are having all kinds of problems.
Many of us in the church believe our sincerity acts as a kind of magical protection against all demonic intrusions and deceptions. But the Bible warns us repeatedly to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1Pe 5:8).
God will not violate our will if we do not desire His will for us. Develop a desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit so that God will enhance our will to do His will. Our thinking must be in agreement with God’s Word then we are ready for deliverance from unclean spirits in our soul. Spirits of lust, pride, anger, unforgiveness, hate, depression, anxiety, compulsion, fear, worry, guilt, shame, rejection, rebellion, ancestral curses, deep hurt, witchcraft, etc. must be rooted out of the soul. This part of our warfare is very important because if we have areas in us that the enemy can use against us, he will use them. Slaves who love their chains can never be free.
Most of the demons do in fact leave when we command them to leave in the name of Jesus. However, there are times when we cannot get rid of it, because demons work on legal grounds most of the time. It’s like they have a “lease” to be in us. If we were in the occult at one time, this would be a legal ground. We can command them to leave all day, but they don’t have to, until the occult is renounced by the person. This renouncement breaks the lease. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Also we are able to see different spirit come among us because of our ignorance and undiscernment concerning the gift of God and the schemes of the Devil. 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
POWER FROM GOD:
Power in our lives comes by grace, from the Holy Spirit. Power to walk by faith, power to resist temptation, power to minister and witness is available to every believer. God made His position on the occult remarkably clear in Duet: 18:9-14, where He lists full gamut of occult categories labeling them as detestable, because God knows the demonic source behind these practices and does not want his people to be contaminated by them (Lev 19:31). Those who turn to mediums and to spiritists are spiritual harlots in the eyes of God (Lev 20:6).
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. The word translated keep and diligence means to guard, to protect or preserve. The Word of God is to control our soul. We can see that from 2 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
To avoid being trapped by counterfeit spirituality that is offered by the Devil, everyone must open up his or her soul to the control of the Holy Spirit in order to be Biblically Spiritual. Spiritual in this sense means devoted to and controlled by a higher power or the Lord God Almighty.
Fasting is a weapon for us to use to break the bondage of the enemy. Isaiah 58:6, Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Binding and Loosing are weapons used to prevail against the gates of hell (Matt 16:18, 19).
When Joshua was called to warfare by the Lord, the Lord said to him, “only be thou strong and very courageous”. Joshua 1:7, Again the Lord did not call us to battle to lose and in Joshua 1:9 He said, “This Book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
What better guarantee do we need than to have the Living God take us into the battle and bring us out successfully? God has given us power over the enemy! Every evil spirit, every dumb spirit, every infirmity, every spirit of divination, every perverse spirit and spiritual blindness must fall by the wayside. We must be persistent. According to God’s Word, we win.
John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
