March 19, 2009
Harmless?
I flipped through the television
channels looking for something worth watching. I had gone through all the
channels from top to bottom twice. I don't know why I bothered the second time.
It's not as if something more interesting would have been on the second time
around.
Disregarding a couple of documentary
style programs on uninteresting subjects and some obscure sporting events, most
of what was left had something to do with the occult in some fashion or another.
We're being constantly bombarded with
occult and New Age information in all areas of the media. I'm always astounded
at the number of "Christians" who are involved in many ways with both the occult
and the so called New Age.
There are often things done by
Christians without realizing those things are of the occult or have occult
roots. Chain letters (or emails) even so called inspirational or "Christian"
ones are an example. Chains that depend on greed or fear (or guilt) to keep them
circulating. Fear and false guilt are not of God.
S
Some massage techniques and many
of the martial arts are rooted deeply in the things of the enemy and a strong
entry point for demonic influence in our lives. Now, I know that comment is not
going to sit well with some of you?
Aside from those sorts of practices done
out of ignorance, many so called Christians are active in things of the occult.
They seem to view these things as harmless fun.
Scripture takes a totally different
view.
Deuteronomy
18:9-14 NIV
When you
enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the
detestable ways of the nations there. 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. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or
divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
Deuteronomy
18:9-14 NIV
Do not
practice divination or sorcery. Leviticus 19:26b NIV
I will
destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.
There is nothing harmless about occult
practices. White magic; horoscopes; tea leave readings; séances; palm readings;
Ouija boards; tarot cards and more are not of God. Much of it is simply scam,
but the enemy does have power and can use these things as a powerful way to gain
access to your life. It's like playing Russian roulette with half the chambers
full. Are you really willing to take the chance that it's okay to dabble in
something that is at best a scam and at worst detestable in the eyes of God? God
says “Don't play around with it in any form.”
If you have been dabbling in these
areas, STOP! Get rid of any paraphernalia that you have and repent of it.
The people of Ephesus saw the power of
God compared to the power of the things they had been practicing. They quickly
came to fear God and destroy the accursed things they were involved in.
Acts
19:11-13 NIV
God did
extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that
had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the
evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried
to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They
would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come
out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the
evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are
you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them
all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and
bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they
were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high
honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil
deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and
burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total
came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely
and grew in power.
We need to do the same.
Is there power in the occult? Yes. Can
it match the power of God? No! Do you really want to be messing with it? I pray
not!
Until next time, examine your life. Are
there occult or new age practices that you have been involved in? If so put them
aside today and get right with God.
Blessings to you and yours!
Darrel Mason