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"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: 'I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of the babblers, AND DRIVES DIVINERS MAD;'" Isaiah 44:24-25 He drives diviners (witches, fortune tellers) mad... There is a great truth hidden here, which most probably don't notice. The reason I noticed it is because when I came to the Lord many years ago, I came in by way of the deliverance ministry. I learned right from the start all about the occult (which I was involved in) and the curse it brings upon those going anywhere near it. It's deadly. It destroys. It brings about all sorts of tragedies, takes people in their youth, destroys families and relationships, wreaks havoc upon all who involve themselves with it, even those who do it "innocently." People are willing to believe in extraterrestrial life "out there," ET's who sometimes show up in our world. How, then, do they refuse to consider what God has said about extraterrestrial beings? If there is a Creator, why not ask him? Do extraterrestrial beings exist? Oh yes. Oh yes they do. But they are not what they are portrayed by the world to be. The Catholic church has a huge and powerful telescope atop Mount Graham in Arizona, and they're using it to try to find life "out there." The pope has actually said that they might eventually baptize these "alien beings." At CERN in Switzerland, there is a subterranean particle collider, manned by some of the top scientists and physicists in the world. They have stated that they are trying to make contact with beings from "another dimension." In fact, in their great wisdom they have no idea that they are opening up "portals," which are openings through which alien beings (which are actually demons) might come through into our world. Interestingly, CERN is dedicated to the Hindu god shiva. Imagine - dedicated to a false god by the world's top physicists. The foolishness of men. Why not ask the highest mind in the universe, the mind of Almighty God who has told us much about these extraterrestrial beings? Simply put, the Word of God (the Bible) describes extra-terrestrial beings as angels, fallen angels, and demons. If mankind would simply accept what God has said on the subject, they would save themselves a lot of money and effort in the quest to make contact with them. If mankind knew that the beings they are contacting are actually demons, they might consider the rest of God's Word and stay away from them, because the Word of God says that fallen angels and demons are not benevolent, they are totally evil. They even have names for the different functions they perform. In one Bible passage four of these categories are named for us, sort of like the military has generals, sergeants, corporals, etc., so does the hierarchy under Satan: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (1) Principalities, (2) against Powers, (3) against The Rulers Of The Darkness Of This Age, (4) against Spiritual Hosts Of Wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:11-12 People who entangle themselves in occult activities are opening doors for demonic oppression in their lives, and they have no idea the seriousness of what they're bringing onto themselves. For example, when you hear of a family where there have been multiple tragedies, it often can be traced to demonic or occult or "New Age" involvement by that person or even by a parent or grandparent as far back as the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18, Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:9). In the passage at the beginning of this article God shows that "diviners" are driven mad. That's exactly one of the chief signs of occult involvement – mental illness. It has been observed that mental illness can often be traced to involvement in occult activities, again, to the third and fourth generation. This is the seriousness the Word of God places on this kind of sin, because to consult any being other than God for information is to commit spiritual adultery. There is a God and he reserves to himself the right to be the only contact we may have with anyone outside this world. There are two sources of all things supernatural, God and Satan. In the world of the supernatural, any contact you make will be with one or the other of these two alone. And if you try to contact anyone other than God, you just may be driven mad. Or your children may, or grandchildren down to the third and fourth generation. For a list of occult activities specifically mentioned in the Bible, read Deuteronomy 18 starting with verse 10. Briefly, it specifically mentions witchcraft, fortune tellers, sorcery, mediums, astrology, those who contact the dead (necromancers). And it goes on to say that all who involve themselves with any of these - are abominations before God. It's interesting how he puts it: not that the practices are abominations, but those who DO them are abominations. Are you an abomination to God? If you're involved in any of these practices, then yes you are. Friends, the first act of Satan way back at the beginning was to discredit the Word of God. And that is his tactic today. "Has God really said ...?" When the disciples of Jesus asked him what would be the signs of his return, the very first thing he told them was to take heed that they be not DECEIVED (Matthew 24:3-4). This is the age of deception, the final days of the age. Listen to Jesus Christ. Listen to his Word. Take heed and be not deceived. Your eternity and that of your children just might depend on it.
"I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
Uphold my steps in your paths,
that my footsteps may not slip."
Psalm 17:4-5
What are "the paths of the destroyer?" There are principles in the spiritual world just as there are principles in the physical world, for it is the same God who established both. In the physical world, men have studied the laws of atoms, and of heat and and of gravity, etc. and with their growing knowledge they have succeeded in decoding DNA on the micro level, all the way to putting men on the moon in the macro level. There are laws, or principles, in the spiritual world as well. One is the law of sowing and reaping. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Galatians 6:7-8 This principle is what King David, the author of the psalm, had in mind when he says he has kept away from "the paths of the destroyer." When a man sins, there will be a consequence. This is a law as sure as the law of gravity. There is one sin that brings very terrible and very obvious results, and that is the sin of spiritual adultery, commonly known as involvement in the world of the occult and "new age" practices. The consequences of delving into the supernatural world of the occult are particularly severe, usually resulting in mental illness or premature death. And that's not all. The Scriptures tell us that judgment on this particular type of sin goes down to the third and fourth generation of those committing them. Why is this so? There are two sources of supernatural power, the power of God and the power of Satan. When a person is in great need of guidance or consolation, he may seek out a medium or fortune teller hoping to receive a word from a loved one who has departed. Or - a person who is discouraged in life might begin seeking in astrology or "New Age" teachings to find ways to make his life better. All this is spiritual adultery. It's trying to connect with supernatural power that is forbidden in the Scriptures. God wants all of our focus on him, and when one ventures into the occult they are making contact with the enemy of God, the kingdom of darkness. God has made it more than clear throughout his Word that we are to come to him ALONE, for guidance, for help, for anything at all that requires supernatural assistance. He says he is "a jealous God." Why? Because he is the Most High, he is Almighty God, he is your creator, it is he who brought you into the world, and he demands that you revere him ALONE. Any attempt to receive anything from the supernatural world outside of him alone is the sin of spiritual adultery. Adultery says "you're not enough for me." Adultery tempts with intrigue, and aren't all men intrigued by the supernatural world? But if the intrigue leads you to someone other than the Lord himself, that is spiritual adultery. Deuteronomy chapter 18 starting with verse 10, lists several occult practices so that no one will be unclear on this subject. Among those severely warned against are mediums, spiritists, and necromancy (which is trying to make contact with the dead.) Read it, there are many listed there. The passage goes on to say that any PERSON who delves into any of these things, that person is "an abomination to the Lord." That means that if you have delved into any of these practices, no matter how trivial they may seem to you, YOU have become "an abomination to the Lord." The passage goes on to say that this is so serious in God's eyes, that the judgment on these sins will fall onto the children of the perpetrator. The most common judgment on this type of sin is mental illness, premature death, or both. "And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT PERSON..." Leviticus 20:6 If you are a victim of such afflictions, if you see a pattern in your family of premature death or mental illness, then you will need to deal with this before the Lord, confessing these sins and the sins of your parents or grandparents known and unknown. The only way to be set free from this spiritual law is confession and repentance. And it will be a terrible battle. Better not to get involved in these things in the first place. Better to keep your feet AWAY from "the paths of the destroyer."
"He went through every city and village,
preaching and bringing the glad tidings
of the kingdom of God.
And the twelve were with him,
and certain women who had been healed
of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary called Magdalene,
out of whom had come seven demons..."
Luke 8:1-2
Satan has cleverly convinced the world that demons don't exist. If you speak of them in front of people, expect to be laughed at. But the Word of God tells us over and over again and over again some more - that they ARE real - and they're FAR more common than even a believer would think. I remember Derek Prince who ministered on this subject, saying that if our eyes were opened and we could see into the spiritual world, we'd probably drop dead of fright.
Can a Christian be demonized? Absolutely. A Christian cannot be "possessed" by a demon. The correct translation of the word is "demonized," not “possessed” – huge difference.
There are afflictions in our body, and afflictions in our soul. Jesus casted out deaf spirits, dumb spirits, spirits of infirmities of every kind. Read your Bible, it's all in there. Read particularly in the Book of Mark which spends more time on this subject than the other Gospels.
Many, if not most, afflictions are called by names the world gives. Psychiatry has books written about this or that affliction, and all they can do is treat it with drugs and “therapy.” In many cases, the drugs aren't truly effective and can often do more harm than good. But HOW TRUE is the Scripture:
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."
John 8:36
If you have an affliction of any kind that refuses to budge, be it in your body or in your mind, and if drugs don't really keep it in check, ASK the Lord if the problem might be demonic in nature, because it very well might be. If there's a part of your personality over which you have no control no matter how hard you try, ASK the Lord if it's demonic in nature. It probably is, especially if there has been any occult involvement in your life or in the life of any of your parents or grandparents. Judgment on involvement in the occult goes down to the 3rd and 4th generation, that's how serious this sin is in the eyes of the Lord. (Exodus 34:7)
Awhile back there was a woman in the church my sister attended who practiced "reiki." She came to "pray" over my elderly mother who had various afflictions. I told my sister that reiki was an abomination before God, and my sister told the woman not to come again. A few years later I happened to be thinking about this woman as I was writing on the occult, and I asked my sister if the woman was still in her church. She answered me, "Oh no. She's dead." She was not old. But she was dead. In another case, my daughter confronted her pastor about bringing in a magician to entertain the people in the congregation. He brushed her off and refused to listen. A few months later ...he was dead. Again, he wasn't old. Just dead.
Involvement in the occult is so serious that the one who touches it is "an abomination to the Lord." Not that the practice is an abomination to the Lord, but the PERSON who does it is an abomination to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 18:12) and EVERYONE who sins in this area will come under a curse and will come into bondage. Everyone without exception, even if the involvement was done in ignorance.
Seek the Lord for deliverance. Ask the Lord Jesus to set you free. Deliverance is something so dramatic that you'll hardly believe it when it happens to you. The part of you held by a demonic bondage will be freed and when it's gone you will truly marvel at the change in you. And you will never have to struggle in that area again. Truly, whom the Son sets free is FREE INDEED.
If you're a believer who does not believe that a believer can be afflicted in this way, I present to you the passage in the New Testament where the apostle Paul was afflicted by a "thorn in the flesh," a "messenger of Satan." He asked for deliverance from this “messenger of Satan,” but in his case the Lord told him he'd have to bear it. Paul had a tremendous ministry and he said that in his case it was necessary to keep him humble. (2nd Corinthians 12:7)
Before you can receive deliverance, every occult article, book, jewelry, any occult or “New Age” paraphernalia, must be rid of from your home and from your life. It is imperative to confess every sin in this area and to completely repent of all involved. This may take time as the Lord brings to your attention things you may have forgotten.
PRAY for guidance and ask the Lord to bring to light the hidden things of darkness. It will be a struggle, as Satan does not give up easily. Plead the power of the victory of Christ over yourself and your life. Once you're free your heart will be filled with awe and praise and thanksgiving.
Do it. It's SO worth it!