Don’t Be
Bewitched by the Occult
Sermon from cong readings in 1 Sam 25-29,
July 17, 05 – bk@kluth.org
1 - Realize that occult influences and activities are
rampant in our society
Examples: Yoga, horoscopes, Transcendental Meditation, New
Age teachings, Freemasonry, fortune tellers, ESP, hypnotism, children’s toys
and movies, Harry Potter books, and much, much more. Neo-pagan religions (Druid, Celtic, Wicca, Norse) are the fastest
growing religions.
One
knowledgeable Christian ministry writes: “No matter how insignificant or
harmless the occult may seem, it is important to know that: (1) There is real
power behind it, (2) It will give the
enemy a foothold in your life, and (3) It can open you up to
demonic oppression (i.e. evil spirits).
Such influences can hinder your freedom from sin and your ability to
live the new life that God has for you in Christ.
2 - Realize that half-hearted attempts to deal with the
occult will ensnare you later
Ex
22:18
Do not allow a sorceress (=witches, users of witchcraft, those who whisper
or cast spells over someone or something, those who practice magic) to
live. Deut 18:10-12 Let
no one be found among you 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. 1 Sam 28:3 Saul had expelled the mediums (=sorcerers,
those involved in black magic, those who communicate with the spirits of the
dead in order to predict the future) and spiritists (=wizards) from
the land.
3 - Realize that the spirit world is real
1
Sam 28:5-8,11, 13-14 When Saul saw the Philistine
army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the
LORD did not answer him…Saul then said…"Find me a woman who is a medium,
so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they
said. So Saul disguised himself,
putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman.
"Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one
I name."..."Bring up Samuel," he said... The woman said, "I
see a spirit coming up out of the ground." "What does he look like?" he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming
up," she said. Then Saul knew it
was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the
ground. Samuel said to Saul, "Why
have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are
fighting against me, and God has turned away from me.”
4 - Realize that involvement with the occult has hurtful
consequences
Lev
19:31
Do not turn to (=look to) mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will
be defiled (=dirtied, polluted, made unclean) by them.
Isa
47:13-14 All the counsel you have received has only
worn you out! Let your astrologers come
forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save
you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will
burn them up. They cannot even save
themselves. Lev 20:6-7
(The LORD says) “I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and
spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from
his people. Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD.
5 – Reject and renounce any involvement with the occult and
follow Christ
Acts
19:18-20
Many of those who believed (in Christ) 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 (NLT=several million dollars). In this way the word of the Lord spread
widely and grew in power. Eph
6:11-12 Put on all of God's
armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks
of the Devil. For we are not fighting
against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who
rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
.
BIBLE READINGS for this week, read 1 Sam 30 to 2 Sam 3, Ps
77-78