1. Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. Psalm 28:7 Jehovah is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
Hymns
Invitation
Red Songbook -
Supplemental

3. Dangers of Occultism
Some thoughts on this parable

4. Occultism
In previous studies we saw that Occultism: - is gaining knowledge & power thru the supernatural - is ancient pagan symbols and sayings - is all around us in common things - is utterly opposed to the ideas of God in Christ

5. Occultism
Using astrology & fortunetelling to predict Speaking to the Dead Superstitions

6. Superstition or Faith
Superstition has often been confused with Faith But (the Jews) had certain questions against (Paul) of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25:19 (KJV)

7. Superstition or Faith
A superstition is: 1 a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition 2: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary” (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed, pg 1183).

8. Superstition or Faith
Faith is: 1. the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17)

9. Superstition or Faith
Faith results from understanding Superstition results from ignorance Faith comes from a source Superstition comes from the mind

10. Confusing Faith with Superstition

11. Superstition or Faith
Even Christians confuse superstition with faith O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" -- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. 1 Timothy 6:20-21

12. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Faith comes from the Word of God …..whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23b

13. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Faith comes from the Word of God Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. 1 Corinthians 4:6

14. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Faith comes from the Word of God For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; 2 Corinthians 1:13

15. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Faith comes from the Word of God What about those who want MORE than this? "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away. Matthew 16:4

16. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Superstition comes from: Coincidences and happenstances I returned and saw under the sun that-the race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11
Pat Robertson and Joel Olsteen are doing VERY well as false prophets. This does not mean that God approves. The converse is not true either – when a man does bad, he is not being punished (although a righteous man may be chastised – Heb 12)

17. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Superstition comes from: Coincidences and happenstances Feelings and intuition The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
2Th 3:6 ¶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

18. Confusing Faith with Superstition
Superstition comes from: Coincidences and happenstances Feelings and intuition False teachers and teachings "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Respectable men may say things (Goodpasture, Hailey), we CANNOT accept anything apart from God

19. Confusing Faith with Superstition
“Conservative Christians, who are the most likely to reject Darwinism, were the most likely to reject ‘occult and pseudo-scientific notions’. Conversely, surveys showed that regions poor in Darwin-rejecting churches had the most cults, occult activity and superstition”
Bainbridge and Stark, Superstitions: Old and New,
The Skeptical Inquirer, 4(4):18–31, Summer 1980.
Superstition comes from:
Coincidences and happenstances
Feelings and intuition
False teachers and teachings
Worldly philosophers
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; 1 Corinthians 2:14
So called “science” IS SUPERSTITION!
Many Christians may believe in theistic evolution or doubt the flood because they have been skewed by godless teachers

20. Confusing Faith with Superstition
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away. Matthew 16:4 Evil because – an unbelieving heart Adulterous because – it turns to other things

21. Rejecting Superstition
We must avoid the temptation of superstition Making up our minds to act by Faith Compelling our feelings to follow understanding Ignoring circumstances that are random

23. How to Live by Faith
Hearing and believing – Acts 4:4 Confession of Jesus Christ – Acts 8:37 Repentance of sin – Acts 2:38 Water Baptism into Christ – Acts 22:16 Remain in the Word of Grace – Acts 20:32