 |
| The Occult Occult is defined in Webster's Dictionary as: secret; mysterious; to conceal: to hide from view. The Occult involves practices of divination, magick, Satanism, spiritism, UFO cults, and witchcraft. Occult practices of divination include astrological signs, crystal gazing, Ouija board, palm reading, runes, tarot cards, and tea leaves. The Ouija board begins to work when persons begin to talk or pray to spirits. Generally over a period of time, the 'spirit' or demon to whom one communicates to through the board will begin threatening or demanding worship from the user. The Ouija is actually a slang word for 'fallen angel' and 'demon'. The Ouija board was patented in America in 1892 by William Fuld. The ouija board is controlled by demons in disguise who deceive their users with lies about their identities, predictions, and secrets, done through a networking of demons. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 Astrology and a horoscope includes predicting the lives of men on earth by the alignments of stars and planets. Astrology in the West was strongly influenced by Babylon. Crystal gazing is an attempt to predict the future events by looking at a crystal ball, mirror, or pool of water. Palm reading, palmistry, is the practice of predicting he future by examining the lines on people's hands. Palmists claim that the lines detail a persons personality, character, abilities, and relationships. Palm reading is closely linked to Astrology. The use of the Rune Alphabet for divination originated in Germany. The rune blocks are thrown and the letters are interpreted. The 78 Tarot Cards are used by fortune tellers. Tea leaves are also used by fortune tellers as a method of foretelling the future. All forms of predicting and revealing secrets in through these methodisms are done through the "grape vine" of familiar spirits. How do these psychics, mediums, and the like know? They are given secrets via the networkings of demons. Familiars are assigned to people in the same manner that God assigns angels to people. Satan tries to mimick God. These demons share observed information as needed. An elaborate deception to win over people's trust. Biblical Response: 1) Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Leviticus 19:26 KJV "Do not practice divination or sorcery." Levitcus 19:26 NIV 2) There shall not be found among you any that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Deuteromony 18:10-11 3) And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and worshipped Baal. And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 2 Kings 17:16-17 Spiritism is the belief that the dead can communicate with the living through a medium.The spiritualist believe that the dead can offer aid and knowledge to the living. Biblical Response: 1) Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them, I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:26 2) And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Leviticus 20:6 Magick and Witchcraft is the art that claims to control and / or forecast natural events, effects , or forces by invoking the supernatural. The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature. Practitioners of magic add a 'k' to the spelling: magick. Magick is an attempt to manipulate the supernatural in an attempt to receive power or control. Witchcraft is closely related to magick. Witches refer to themselves as the "old Religion" or "The Craft." They claim that their religion dates back to prehistoric times. They often refer to themselves as 'Wiccans." The terms comes from the Anglo-Saxon term or "wise ones". Witchcraft is a nature religion that in many ways is similar to the fertility religions that the Old Testament prophets confronted. Witches deny that they believe or worship the devil. Contemporary witchcraft is accredited to student of the occult, Gerald B. Gardner, and his writings. His teachings have spread through Britain and North America. Many witches have started referring to themselves as 'neo-pagans'. They call their group a nest, grove, or circle, rather than a coven. Various forms of witchcraft are taught in an attempt to convince the practicioner that they can obtain supernatural-like abilities. When a spell is cast what actually occurs is, a demon is sent forth and accomplishes the task. No supernatural event took place. Only a demonic errand. Beware the he practicing of witchcraft of any kind open up a spiritual door for demons to enter one's life. Biblical Response: 1) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son passe 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: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 2) Therefore this is the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. Ezekiel 13:20 NIV 3) A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. Acts 19:19 NIV 4) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8 Satanism - Satan literally means "adversary, liar, and deceiver." Satanism is the darkest side of the occult. It involves submission to Satan's will. Satanism can be divided into two main categories: self-styled Satanists and religious Satanists. Some Satanists don't believe in a literal Satan but they use Satan as a symbol of their opposition to the Christian God. Others believe that Satan exists and they worship him as a god. Self-styled Satanists are influenced by heavy metal music, songs that exalt abuse of women, anger, violence, aberrant sexual behavior, death, and other criminal activities, and books on rituals. The self-styled are diverse and borrow practices from many sources. Religious Satanists are members of formal Satanic groups. Many of these religious Satanists do not believe in God or Satan. The founder of the church of Satan, Anton LaVey, claimed that he did not believe in the existence of Satan. He asserted that Satan is merely a symbol of man's ego, lust, and greed. LaVey rejected the existence of sin, heaven, hell, life after death, and anything supernatural. Biblical Response: 1) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 2) He who does not what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John 3:8 3) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15 4) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 5) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flea from you. James 5:7 6) And the devil that had deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10 HOW TO WITNESS TO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE OCCULT 1) Discern if the person involved in the occult is either fanatical or a dabbler. 2) Many get involved in the occult in an attempt to solve some tough life problems, so talk with the person to discover the needs and problems they are facing. 3) Let the persons know that Jesus is the only answer to the spiritual difficulties they are facing. 4) Stress the victorious authority Jesus has over the occult world and His power over Satan: See Mark 9:14-29 ; Luke 4:33-36 ; etc. 5) Inform them that the born again who trust and serve Jesus as Lord and Savior are offered power and authority over Satan and occult powers. A) Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 B) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having out on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17 6) Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your words and actions as you minister to the persons entrapped by the occult. 7) Always remember to not go ministering alone in whatever you do. Don't be an Island. keynote: The Occult hides behind the banner of tolerance. They want everyone to be tolerant of what they believe and teach, but they aren't tolerant of the Gospel of Christ nor the Word of God. Don't be pulled into a false truce. Do not compromise with the enemy. Jeremy Brown 2001 Demons, Witches, and the Occult exWitch Ministries A witch embraces Christianity Cult Help Referrals Note: When first putting together works such as this back in 2000-2001, I had no proper understanding of how to compile and format such lengthy works as this. When my Baptist cousin Rusty gave dad some anti-cult tracts from North American Missions Board, it inspired me to write some webpages that countered various cults. This was among the first of my counter-cult webpages. I would like for you to see the unedited original from NASB at http://www.namb.net/root/resources/beliefbulletins/resources/occult.asp I have since developed my own style and have learned to better quote sources since my beginnings. Feel free to view the original and compare with my additions here. God bless and keep you. -Jeremy Brown 2003 |
 |