Psychic
Friends or Spiritual Gifts?
Psychic Friends Are No Friends At All
Unclean spirits
are happy to expose themselves through psychic connections. Many teenagers have
not had the benefit of Messian discipleship, and, as a result of their innocent
curiosity, have become terrorized by demons the rest of their lives. |
|
||||
Snyder Bible Home
All Sermons Guidelines: The United Methodist Church and the Charismatic Movement |
![]() |
||||
|
MORE DELIVERANCE Neil Anderson Pack, 2 Volumes Victory Over Darkness / The Bondage Breaker, updated editions Deep Wounds Deep Healing: Discovering the Vital Link Between Spiritual Warfare & Inner Healing Charles Kraft - helping self & others I Give You Authority Charles Kraft - how to have & use it Spiritual Housecleaning: Protect Your Home From Spiritual Pollution Alice & Eddie Smith |
||||
Acts 16:16-18 (SEV) Once we were going
to the place for prayer. A slave-girl met us. She had an evil spirit in her.
This spirit gave her the power to tell what would happen in the future. By
doing this, she earned a lot of money for the men who owned her. 17.
This girl followed Paul and us everywhere. She said loudly, “These men
are servants of the Highest Elohim! They are telling you how you can be saved!’’
18. She continued doing this for many
days. This bothered Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, “By the
authority of Yahshua Messiah, I order you to come out of her!’” At that moment, the spirit came out. (This is read in the course of the message.) Prayer for Justification
Now, Father Yahweh, I ask you to restore a right spirit within
me. I do invite and accept the spirit
of Yahshua Messiah, your Son, my Savior and Master, into my being. And I ask you
to fill all the empty places in my life with your Holy Spirit, that I might no
longer sin against you. Thank you for saving me from the evil one. Thank you
for delivering my soul. Thank you for
protecting my loved ones, my church and me.
Thank you for loving me despite myself. Now I praise you for all you
have done for me this day. In Yahshua’
precious name. Amen.
Once upon a time I
left the Lay Leader in charge of a Sunday night service to go into my office,
which was in the church. There I found
two teenagers, members of the church, using my office phone. I listen out of sight for a while to
discover whom they were talking to. To
my horror I learned that these young men were using the church phone during
worship hours to call their “psychic friends” network. One of the young men was
the son of the Lay Leader, who was in charge of the service in the room next
door. The parents all thought it was
cute; but such behavior, especially among church members and Messians, can
bring serious consequences in the form of demonic attacks, targeting both the
vulnerable church members, like children and the elderly folks.
Perhaps like at no
other time, people in the United States are interested in the supernatural.
They find easy access to “the world beyond” through seemingly innocent
practices like astrology, fortune telling, Ouija boards, séances, psychic
connections, and role-playing games. Mardi Gras Coming is coming up next month,
the ‘Christmas’ of the occult. Already
we see cashiers and clerks cursing themselves by wearing Mardi Gras necklaces,
which are, in reality, Voodoo beads.
The attitude many have concerning these occult practices is that they
can’t hurt; they might even help. Or, they’re “for entertainment purposes
only.” At any rate, they’re harmless.
But their appearance of fun and innocence is a deception. The devilish
realm of demons, ghosts, spirits and psychic delusions is real and really
dangerous. There is an incredible amount of power in this evil realm. And the
Bible concurs 100% with my opinion.
Psychic Connection in the Bible
For instance, in 1
Samuel 28, Saul, the prophet of Yahweh and king of Israel, visits his “psychic
friend,” the witch of Endor, commanding her to bring the prophet Samuel back
from the dead so that Saul can get advice about his future.
The psychic witch tells Saul she sees “a spirit rising from
out of the ground.” This demon possesses her, and it begins to speak to Saul
through her mouth. The evil spirit, who is not Samuel but identifies
itself with him, says, “Saul, tomorrow you will be with me in hell.” By defying
Elohim and going to a psychic, Saul opened himself up to a demon of death name
Samuel. He is so fearful that he fulfills the evil spirit’s prophecy himself.
He takes his entire family into an ambush the next day and every member save
one is killed. The moral of this Bible parable is that evil will surely befall
a believer who utilizes demonic power.
St. Luke writes
about an encounter he and St. Paul had with a demon possessed psychic in Greece
in Acts 16:16-18:
Once
when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had
a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money
for her owners by fortune telling. This girl followed St. Paul and the rest of
us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High Elohim, who are telling you
the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally St. Paul became
so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of
Yahshua Messiah I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
No matter what they may say (and many say their power comes
from “God,” whoever that is), psychics derive their power from evil spirits masquerading
as their friends. When St. Paul
cast the evil spirit out of the slave girl, she no longer could tell the
future. This infuriated her masters, who had made big money with her power. And
now just as then, psychics and astrologers use demonic powers to prey on the
pocketbooks of the perplexed. When a believer uses a psychic, a witch or a
spell, Yahweh’s protection is made null; a spiritual door opens right up
for the entry of demonic forces.
Occult Practices Forbidden
The Bible states
clearly that all occult practices originate with the devil. For their own protection and the protection
of their churches, such things are not allowed. People who dabble in astrology, card reading, the voodoo of Mardi
Gras or psychic phenomena, link themselves with evil spirits. Such involvement always
without exception leads to demonic oppression, sometimes to possession, and
occasionally to the loss of one’s salvation.
Occult practices
are strictly forbidden in the Bible:
Deuteronomy
18:10-13 (JHS) There must not be found anyone among you who sacrifices
children, tells fortunes, interprets signs, hypnotizes, is a witch, casts
spells, channels spirits, or is a medium, or one who consults the dead. For
anyone who does these things is detestable to Yahweh, and anyone who does these
detestable practices the Yahweh will drive out....
Occult practices are detestable because they originate in
idolatry -- the worshiping of demons.
To go to demons is a betrayal of the one who saves you. You think you may crucify him again, but his
mercy will only extend so far. In the
spiritual realm, it compares to leaving the comfortable, clean heavenly home to
moving in with swine in a filthy, manure-filled sty. Although we were created
to live in the cleanliness of godliness, instead some choose to leave to wallow
in filth. This is why occult practitioners are “detestable” in Yahweh’s
sight; the unclean enemy controls them. Heavenly children must never seek
direction from the unclean. If we do, we commit mortal sin, deadly to
the spirit, unhealthy to the body, jeopardizing our eternal life. As St. Paul
so rightly stated, “You can not eat at the table of Elohim and at the table
of demons.” No one gets away with
it. Who would want to try?
Experimenting in the Occult
Unclean spirits
are happy to expose themselves through psychic connections. Many teenagers have
not had the benefit of Messian discipleship, and, as a result of their innocent
curiosity, have become terrorized by demons the rest of their lives.
Psychologist Ken
Olson recounts a conversation he had with a fourteen-year-old experimenter:
One
day I wanted to see if I could conjure up a demon from the earth, so I made a
circle in my back yard. I started chanting, commanding a demon to appear. It
worked! A huge demon appeared in the circle and I was terrified. I didn’t know
what to do with him. I believe now I have demons in me and I’m really scared.
Notice how innocent the play seems and how serious the
consequences. The boy felt that he was invaded by demons, and it turned out
that he was. And just a few words led to his oppression. When I was seventeen, I had a similar experience. I was a Messian, but went to Chicago on a visit and bought a book called The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft in an occult bookshop. I read about all the demons, including one named Asmodeus that manifested as a large, black dog with shining white teeth. Soon after I was awakened one night when Asmodeus ran into my bedroom and jumped on the bed. The demon was masquerading as a huge, foul black dog. The demon howled and jumped on top of me in the bed. It drew its evil face with its shining teeth close to mine. I could smell it’s horrid breath. Like the other boy, I was terrified, but I knew enough to command it out by the blood of Yahshua Messiah. Asmodeus fled at the very mention of Yahshua’ blood, tail between its legs. I wasn’t dreaming. The next day, I burned that witchcraft book, because, though only paper and ink, it originated in ungodly power.
Astrology and Witchcraft
Many newspapers
and magazines today run astrology columns. In every phone book, there is a
publisher-sponsored phone number to get a free astrological reading. Practicing
astrology in the form offered today leads to demonic oppression, fear, physical
illness, and loss of eternal security. This is because astrology and horoscopes
originate in the worship of angels. In the ancient world, it was believed that
stars in the zodiac (zohar) were alive and ruled the universe. Stars were
worshipped as gods.
St. Paul refers to
astrology as “the worship of angels,” and warns against consulting astrologers:
Do
not let anyone who delights in ... the worship of angels disqualify you for the
prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his
unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions (Col 2:18).
The prize that may be lost is eternal life. Is it worth it?
Organized
witchcraft and Satanism has been a bane to believers and has destroyed
churches. Witch covens and satanic
groups are very organized and widespread these days, and their mission is to
destroy churches and members. Aside from
praying to Satan against local churches, placing curses and harassing members,
covens will often send a witch or warlock into the church to become an active
member, and thus begin the process of destroying the church from within. I have personally known several such
‘plants’ in the church. If I’ve of
their secret membership, then I shudder to think of the number who goes
unnoticed within the congregations of our churches, disrupting and destroying.
Video Games
Children, teens
and some adults are enthralled with video games. Some of these are very addictive. Many of the more popular games are either centered around warfare
or occult fantasy worlds. Some games
are specifically written to addict the player to the fantasy world created in
the game. These worlds are very
realistic and full of demonic creatures and graphic violence. I’m not saying that playing video games is
wrong at all. What I am saying is that
after hours in front of the screen in the game, it will install itself in the
player’s subconscious, and he won’t be able to get away from it anymore.
An adult I know
was so addicted to computer video games that he told me he could no longer get
away from the evil characters in the game.
They had installed themselves in his mind and now every time he shut his
eyes he would graphically see these fiends coming after him. He saw the game play out on the backs of his
eyelids when he went to bed and he dreamed that he was in the game just about
every night. He was trapped.
Fortunately, there
is relief from this kind of oppression.
Unfortunately, for this generation, these games have become the same
pacifier and surrogate that television was for my generation. The difference is that video games are
interactive and television is not. One
can become influenced by their supernatural pull much, much quicker.
Holidays of the Occult
There is another
strong influence for the occult that seems very innocent and in which many
people are involved: occult holidays: I’m primarily speaking of
Halloween and Mardi Gras. Messians
who participate in these holidays must not be aware of the quantity of
prayer Satanists devote to them during these seasons, else they would give them
up.
Mardi Gras has
become more and more popular through the south. Some think that Fat Tuesday is a Messian holiday because it
precedes Ash Wednesday, but it always has been a voodoo festival. The object of voodoo worship is to open
one’s self up to evil spirits so that worshipers can appropriate their power to
get what they want, no matter whom they hurt.
Traditionally during Mardi Gras, worshipers of evil spirits drink, take
drugs, have wild parties, dance and do unmentionable things in order to open
themselves up. They have parades with
‘floats’ to attract the evil spirits connected with what the float
represents. Individuals wear beads to
attract the demons from the floats.
During the Mardi Gras season, while Messians are having fun at
parades, catching beads and moon pies from drunken men and women in “mystic
societies,” Satanists the world over are praying for our downfall.
Elohim Gave Us Spiritual Resources
Are we then as
believers forbidden to use supernatural power?
The answer is no! Although
Yahweh’s law forbids we use the powers of darkness, he has provided us with
supernatural access and knowledge through the authority of his Son, Yahshua
Messiah. We can become qualified to use his spiritual resources to overcome
every evil, including fear of the future. The experience the Bible calls
“Baptism in the Holy Spirit” is the portal to his arsenal. A listing of the ten (not nine) supernatural
resources is found in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. They are:
1.
Wisdom - inspired insight into any situation;
2.
Knowledge - knowing things you’ve never learned;
3.
Faith - believing for every need;
4.
Healing - curing diseased or broken bodies;
5.
Miraculous powers - ability to suspend natural laws;
6.
Prophesy - inspired speaking;
7.
Knowing spirits - being able to discern intentions;
8.
Tongues - speaking languages never learned;
9.
Interpretation - understanding languages never learned; and,
10.
Love - empathy toward all and charity for the needy.
In the next few messages, we will be exploring these
wonderful resources, beginning with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and its
fruit. There will be opportunities to receive these gifts and graces, and
teaching as to how we can use them for the sake of righteousness and holiness.
Seeking Answers from the Occult
Having been
provided such incredible powers, why would anyone who belongs to the Holy
Spirit want to seek the spiritual power or experience from the adversary? Because such is the broad way that leads to
destruction. Once one is involved with
the occult and has opened themselves to devilish powers, it is impossible to
get free without a miracle of grace.
Father understands if somebody seeks answers from the occult if they
don’t know it’s forbidden. But woe to
those who, despite knowing His goodness, seek what’s evil. The letter to the Hebrews speaks of these poor
folks:
It
is impossible for those who have once ... tasted the goodness of the word of
Elohim and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to
repentance, because ... they are crucifying the Son of Elohim all over again and
subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6)
The writer isn’t
speaking here of simply backsliding, he means to warn those who are dabbling in
“the powers” of occult spirituality.
The believer who knowingly uses occult methods is testing Father’s mercy
and crucifying Yahshua again. Church
members who work in the occult bring down evil upon the entire
congregation. When these teens, who
were active church members, contacted their psychic friends on the church
phone, they brought a backlash upon the church from which members still haven’t
recovered.
Renouncing
If we are to be
overcomers, we become such as the Bible teaches, not by the slippery slope of
the “New Age” or occult practices.
Yahshua came to destroy such things.
And he can destroy them through you.
When people become believers in the Father through the life of Yahshua,
they may renounce the enemy openly then invite the Holy Spirit in to clean up
the mess. The Holy Spirit will destroy
all the power of the enemy, if the believer will allow it. The Holy Spirit will never usurp the
authority of one’s free will, but when one gives over her will to the Clean
Spirit, foul spirit and their residue are vanquished.
We are to be
agents of this kind of ‘deliverance.’
We are to acquire the spiritual power of Yashua so that we can open
prison doors and set captives free like he did. Through us, Yahshua may yet bring goodness and order to a world
corrupted by occult powers. We have a serious responsibility to the Creator and
the creation:
The
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of Elohim to be revealed. For the
creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will
of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated
from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children
of Elohim. (Romans 8:19-21)
If you have been
involved in seeking wisdom from astrology, fortune telling, role-playing games,
psychic phenomena, tarot cards, Ouija boards, palmistry, roots or leaves,
séances, channeling, spiritism, witchcraft, casting spells, Satanism, ritual
abuse, demonic games, voodoo, or any of the so-called New Age Religions at any
time in your life, whether you were a willing party or not, you must renounce
these practices and the devils that operate them, and ask Elohim to forgive you
and restore wholly.
We can’t qualify
for The Holy Spirit’s resources unless we’re done with evil. If you have been
involved in the occult, then you must seek now to get out, get free and get
clean. We are now going to pray that the Lord free you, deliver you from
oppression, and restore you to righteousness.
{See Spiritual Prayers}
Prayer
for Freedom
Father Almighty and All Powerful, Yahweh Elohim, today I confess my
interest and involvement in the occult. I realize now that I have been involved
with demonic and unclean spirits who have deceived me, stolen from me, and
blinded me. Yet I know that you are greater than all these powers that oppress
me. I call upon you now to deliver me
from any and all bondage to the devil and his devices. I thank you for the authority through Messiah
Yahshua to be the agent in my own deliverance.
This day I renounce any and all involvement in occult practices, false
religions or psychic phenomena. I break
any curse that has come upon me through my own dealings in the occult, or any
dealings of my ancestors. I cut any
ties to the dark world of the devil with the sword of the Spirit. I plead the
blood of Yahshua over me and over my house, that we might be protected from the
revenge of Satan.
Prayer for Protection
Father Yahweh, I ask you to protect my family [or mention names] from
sickness, from all harm and from accidents.
If any have been subjected to curses, hexes or spells, I declare these
curses, hexes or spells null and void in the name of Yahshua Messiah (or Yahshua
Messiah). If any evil spirits have been
sent out against us, I decommission you in the name of Yahshua Messiah and I send
you be his authority into the underworld pit.
Then, Father, I ask you to send your holy angels to guard and protect
all of us. Through Yahshua our Lord and
Savior. Amen.
Cleansing Prayer
Father, I thank you for sharing with me your wonderful ministry of
healing and deliverance. Thank you for
the healings of the past and those I have experienced today. But I realize that the sickness and evil I
encounter are more than my humanity can bear.
So cleanse me of any sadness, negativity, residue or despair that I may
have picked up.
If my ministry has tempted me to anger, impatience or lust, cleanse me
of those temptations and replace them with love, joy and peace. If any evil spirits have attached themselves
to me or oppress me in any way, I command you, spirits of earth, air, fire or
water, of the netherworld or of nature, to depart now and go straight to Yahshua
Messiah, for him to deal with as he will.
Come, Holy Spirit, renew me, fill me anew with your power, love and
joy. Strengthen me where I have felt
weak and clothe me with your light.
Fill me with life.
And Father, through the Lord Yahshua Messiah, please send your holy angels
to minister to me and my family, and to guard and protect us from all sickness,
harm and accidents (and guard me on a safe tripe home, and grant us a peaceful
night’s rest).
I praise you now and forever, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amein.
July 19, 1992: January
12, 2002; May 1, 2004 |