The Occult… Pastor Brett Peterson

The Bible plainly condemns the occult. When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isa 8:19) Pastor Brett Peterson

  A. Divination (involving future telling), observer of times, enchanter or witch, a charmer, consulter with familiar spirits, wizard, and a necromancer are all condemned and said to be "an abomination unto the Lord" (Deut. 18: 9-12). Occult involvement was a problem in the early church.      ·        Magic  [Acts 8:9-11]      ·         Sorcery  [Acts 13:8, 19:19]      ·        Fortune telling [Acts 16:16] Pastor Brett Peterson

B. Definition of the terms used in Deuteronomy 18: 10, 11. 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. (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) Pastor Brett Peterson

    a. "An observer of times." This person was one who "augurs what is to happen." Hence, he was one who claimed special insight as to the future. (Cp. Eccl. 3: 22, 6: 12.) Do not practice divination or sorcery. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:26, 31) Pastor Brett Peterson

Increased interest in the occult is a sign of the end times.     b. "An enchanter." This designation describes one who practiced magic or "divined by signs." Increased interest in the occult is a sign of the end times. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1) Pastor Brett Peterson

    c. "A Witch." The witch in the language of Deuteronomy 18: 10 appears to have been one "who knew." Again, there is the resident idea of special and hidden knowledge that could not be possessed through ordinary means. There seems to have been involved the matter of "medicines," but the appeal seems to have been to the supernatural. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. (3 John 1:11) Pastor Brett Peterson

Avoid every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)     d. "A charmer." A charmer was one who dealt in spells and who claimed that by means of these spells, he could achieve some desired result. The Romans had a species of incantation that consisted in tying knots with threads of different colors, three in number, which were supposed to become a bond to secure an object (sited from the Pulpit Commentary). Avoid every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) Pastor Brett Peterson

e. "A consulter with familiar spirits     e. "A consulter with familiar spirits." The modern idea regarding the consulter with familiar spirits is one who contacted a spirit of a person who had died. However, the Hebrew terms seem to suggest one who was able to contact a spirit dwelling in himself. These were probably some of the first ventriloquists. They claimed that this second residing spirit was able to speak through them and reveal unknown truths (see Acts 16: 16). Be imitators of God . . . you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light . . . and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:1, 8-11) Pastor Brett Peterson

f. "A wizard. " Today, a wizard is a male witch     f. "A wizard." Today, a wizard is a male witch. However, this meaning is not present in the Hebrew. While we are not sure as to all the involvement, the original word simply denoted "a wise one." In this context, however, the reference is to esoteric wisdom obtained by supernatural means. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15) Pastor Brett Peterson

    g. "A necromancer." A necromancer was and is one who pretends to call upon the dead. It was and is believed that from the dead special knowledge can be acquired that is otherwise unavailable to man. Also someone who believes talking to the spirit of a dead person will benefit them in finding lost articles, for protection, etc. Sound familiar??? Pastor Brett Peterson

  C. In summary, all the seven specific designations purported to possess extraordinary abilities through contact with "the other world." This source of their alleged knowledge is not God and his word, but some dark, mysterious, and concealed source (sometimes stated as being satanic). Pastor Brett Peterson

III. All these practices that comprise the occult were associated with paganism, those without a true knowledge of God. Pastor Brett Peterson

  A. Israel was instructed "thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations" (Deut. 18: 9). What we call the occult is not of God. Pastor Brett Peterson

  B. All New Testament references to the occult consistently condemn such beliefs and practices in no unclear terms (Gal. 5: 20, Acts 13: 6-12). Pastor Brett Peterson

  C. The New Testament mentions a man named Simon who used magic ("sorcery," Acts 8: 9). He "bewitched the people" (he astonished the people with his tricks, Acts 8: 9). Notice also that Simon "giving out that himself was some great one" (vs. 9). The inability of Simon to really perform miracles is seen in his effort to purchase true miracle working power from the apostles (vs. 13-20). Pastor Brett Peterson

IV. Occult practices are presented as in connection with satanic and demonic influence. Pastor Brett Peterson

  A. Occult type practices are consistently presented in the scriptures as associated with Satan and the dark world of demonic activity (cf. Acts 16: 16-19). Pastor Brett Peterson

  B. "Witchcraft" ("sorcery," ASV) is a pursuit of personal power outside of God. (Gal. 5: 19, 20). Pastor Brett Peterson

The Bible says: EPH 5:8-17 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Pastor Brett Peterson

25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Luke 11 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. The spiritual realm is very real - and many cartoons, books/magazines, and games (ouji boards, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Harry Potter, and on I could go listing the MANY cartoons, games, and books that are filled with occultic methodologies) are filled with methods of opening childrens minds and souls to the demonic realm. Pastor Brett Peterson

Galatians 5:16-23 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary . the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, evellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. " AV Pastor Brett Peterson

1CO 10:19-22 "Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Pastor Brett Peterson